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US 5,217,585 AGranted
Transition metal decontamination process
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsThomas S. Snyder, William R. Gass, Gregory F. Boris, Laura J. Ayers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Nickel (or other transition metal) contaminated with about 5 ppm technetium is decontaminated by dissolving the nickel and the technetium into an aqueous acid solution while introducing a graphite or activated carbon powder into the acid to immediately adsorb the dissolving technetium. The technetium-contaminated powder is separated from the aqueous acid solution and the nickel is then electrowon from the solution. The depleted acid solution is then recycled back to the dissolution step.
Claims10
A transition metal decontamination process, comprising the steps of:
- dissolving a transition metal contaminated with technetium in an aqueous acid solution, while introducing a powder selected from the group consisting of graphite and activated carbon into the aqueous acid solution, whereby the technetium is adsorbed by the powder as the transition metal dissolves into the aqueous acid solution;
- separating the technetium-containing powder from the aqueous acid solution;
- electrowinning the dissolved transition metal from the aqueous acid solution;
- and then
- recycling the aqueous acid solution to the dissolution step.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.