Process for chemically decontaminating radioactively contaminated surfaces of a nuclear plant cooling system using an organic acid followed by an anionic surfactant

US8353990B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AREVA NP · FR

Inventors

• Rainer Gassen · Bad Mergentheim, DE
• Luis Sempere Belda · Erlangen, DE
• Werner Schweighofer
• Bertram Zeiler · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 17, 2011
• Grant date: Jan 15, 2013
• Expiry date: Aug 17, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G21F9/30
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A process is provided for chemically decontaminating the surface of a metallic component. In a first treatment step, an oxide layer formed on the component by corrosion of the material of the component is detached from the surface of the component with a first aqueous treatment solution containing an organic decontamination acid. In a subsequent second treatment step, the surface which is at least partially freed of the oxide layer is treated with an aqueous solution containing an active component for removing particles which adhere to the surface. The active component is formed of at least one anionic surfactant from the group including sulphonic acids, phosphonic acids, carboxylic acids and salts of those acids.