Decontamination radioactive contamination

The Advanced Recovery Systems, Inc. (ARS) soil washing technology is an ex situ soil decontamination process for decontaminating radioactively contaminated soil. ARS developed the technology to treat contaminated soil. 

We do not attempt to discuss in depth decontamination methods for radiological wastes. A health physicist should be immediately available to assist with decontamination of radioactively contaminated personnel or equipment. 

Severa, J. and J. Bar. 1991. Handbook of Radioactive Contamination and Decontamination. Studies in Environmental Science 47. Elsevier, New York. 363 pp. 

Experience of using these filters with the removable cartridges in Chernobyl regions has shown that they have been able to solve problems conducted with radioactive contamination of potable water preventing panic of populace, preventing the water contamination in the distance between the water supply station and consumers, preventing consequences of emergency cases at the water supply stations, supply with decontaminated water at remote settlements, etc. 

In 1997, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released bench-scale results of an integrated TechXtract system for decontaminating surfaces contaminated with radionuclides. The overall economics of the system were evaluated. Costs for the system compared favorably with existing options for radioactively contaminated scrap metal (D177859, p. 3). 

The Advanced Recovery Systems, Inc. (ARS) developed the patented, ex situ DeCaF hydrometallurgical technology to decontaminate fluoride by-products and to recover recyclable metals. The technology uses a proprietary acid mixture to digest the fluoride matrix, freeing radioactive contaminants (e.g., uranium, thorium, or radium) and hazardous contaminants (e.g., lead, arsenic, or chromium). Radioactive elements are recycled or disposed. Metals are also recycled, and fluoride is recovered as a high-value salt for aluminum smelting. 

Although HGMS has been used commercially on a large scale for more than 2 decades for some applications, it has been tested only at the bench-scale level for remediation of radioactive-contaminated soils and process streams. This technology is not currently commercially available for radioactive solid or liquid decontamination. 

Children, like adults, can be exposed to nuclear agents through an attack on a nuclear power plant they can be exposed to radiologic agents through the release of a dirty bomb or an unintentional release. The decontamination and treatment of patients exposed to radioactive contaminants are discussed elsewhere in this book (refer to chapter 20). This section outlines pediatric-specific recommendations for care. 

It is important to distinguish between radiation and radioactive contamination. Radiation is energy emitted by atoms that are unstable. Radiation travels through space to some extent—some kinds of radiation can only travel a few millimeters, whereas other types can travel for many meters. Radioactive contamination is the presence of radiation-emitting substances (radioactive materials or RAM) in a place where it is not desired. A patient may be contaminated with radioactive materials, but that patient will not be inherently radioactive and can be decontaminated. Radioactive materials, by comparison, are inherently radioactive—it is a physical property of that material in the same manner as mass or size—and they remain radioactive until they decay to stability. 

In 1998, a source was accidentally melted in a stainless steel production factory in Spain. As a consequence of this accident, the cooling system of one of the ovens became radioactively contaminated. The decontamination process produced 40 m of Cs contaminated water, with an average activity above 300 kBq/L. 

B.E. Lehmann, A. Matter, Tj. Peters, H. Schmassmann and A. Gautschi Highway Pollution edited by R.S. Hamilton and R.M. Harrison Freight Transport and the Environment edited by M. Kroon, R. Smitand J. van Ham Acidification Research in The Netherlands edited by G.J. Heij and T. Schneider Handbook of Radioactive Contamination and Decontamination by J. Severa and J. Bar... 

Routes of entry for radioactive materials are much the same as for poisons. However, the radioactive source or material does not have to be directly contacted for radiation exposure to occur. Exposure occurs from the radiation being emitted from the radioactive source. Once a particulate radioactive material enters the body, it is dangerous because the source now becomes an internal source rather than an external one. You cannot protect yourself by time, distance, or shielding from a source that is inside your body. Contact with or ingestion of a radioactive material does not make you radioactive. Contamination occurs with radioactive particles, but with proper decontamination, these can be successfully removed. After they are removed, they cannot cause any further damage to the body. 

Smooth and Coat Concrete SurfacRc - These are preventive and protective measures against the radioactive contamination of concrete surfaces and thus decrease the quantity of radwaste associated with the decontamination of such surfaces. 

DOE Order 5820.2A, Radioactive Waste Management (DOE 1988), Chapter V of this order, "Decommissioning of Radioactively Contaminated Facilities," provides guidelines and requirements for the management, decontamination, and decommissioning of radioactively contaminated facilities. 

Surface contamination from radioactively contaminated lead can be removed by dipping the contaminated lead into a solution of 1 M hydrochloric acid. After rinsing the lead with water, it usually can be documented as nonradioactive. The acidic wash and rinse solutions contain radionuclides and lead and must be handled accordingly. However, decontaminating the lead results in a smaller mass of mixed waste and allows the decontaminated lead to be reused or recycled. Commercial rinse products are also available for this purpose. 

The described method will remove practically all types of contamination, and it is rarely necessary to try another method. If, after several attempts at decontamination, radioactive material is still present, it will probably be necessary to scrub the skin, using abrasive powders. However, integrity of the skin should be preserved. 

Riess, R. German experience including chemical, electropolishing and decontamination for decommissioning. Paper ANS Executive Conf. E>econtamination of Power Reactors The Costs, Benefits and Consequences. Springfield, Ma., 1984 Sasaki, T, Kobayashi, T, Wada, K. Method and apparatus for regenerating an acid electrolyte that has been used in the decontamination of components with radioactively contaminated surfaces. European Patent Specification 0 141 590 B. 1 (30.1.1991)... 

The exact amount of radioactive contamination in the wastes cannot be determined before hand. It is expected that a full reactor decontamination will remove on the order of 000 curies ... 

The radioactive material in the waste solutions consists mainly of the corrosion products containing radionuclides such as Co, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn. This material arises from the decontamination of components, of contaminated areas, of reusable protective clothing and possibly also of personnel (see paras 4.41-4.50) in the facilities that are provided to remove radioactive contamination from the surfaces. Whereas the activity concentrations in the waste arising from the decontamination of personnel and of clothing are low, concentrations may be medium or high in solutions arising from the decontamination of components before major repair work. 

Handling of experiments, maintenance operations, decontamination of contaminated items, replacement of water in the spent fuel storage pool, and spills or leakages from the core and related systems lead to the production of radioactive waste. This waste accumulates with time and must be properly collected and treated. Aspects of the handling of radioactive waste are discussed in Section 6. 

Radioactive contamination occurs in every area involved in the use of radioactive materials. Systematic and efficient maintenance is an essential condition for the safe operation of nuclear power plants, however maintenance and supervision works are dangereous because of radiation hazard of personnel. Radiation doses can be reduced by decontamination of the primary circuit. On metallic surfaces decontamination can only be achieved by the removal of the upper layer of the surface containing the contaminants. 

Most Western assessments appear to accept that the role of the VKhV is defensive and technical. Professor John Erickson - no sceptic on the subject of the Soviet CBW capability - states, The chemical warfare troops do not themselves wage chemical warfare that is, they are not responsible for the delivery of chemical munitions .Charles Dick, of the Soviet Studies section at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, describes their role as reconnaissance, monitoring radioactive contamination of personnel, decontamination of troops, equipment and terrain, and other special measures . (This covers smoke and incendiaries.) He stresses that their task runs wider than the basics of defence against chemical weapons Soviet chemical troops have the task of increasing the Soviet Army s ability to survive the effects of weapons of mass destruction of all kinds, nuclear, chemical or biological (bacteriological). " This is borne out by the remarks of General Manets referred to above. 

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