Process and apparatus for decontaminating plant parts contaminated with radioactive material

A process for decontaminating parts of nuclear power plants which are contaminated with radioactive material, wherein surface layers are removed from said parts, said process comprising:

• treating the parts to be decontaminated with a jet of pressurized water which contains a granular water insoluble abrasive to form a mixed effluent, separating the mixed effluent of water, abrasive and detached particles into an aqueous phase and a sludge phase, drying the sludge phase to provide a substantially dry residue, separating the resulting dry residue into larger particles larger than a predetermined size and particles smaller in size, separating the larger particles into non-abrasive materials and reusable abrasive, recycling the reusable abrasive to the pressurized water for forming the part treating jet of water under pressure, and disposing of the remaining separated particles and non-abrasive materials.