Process for decontamination of radioactive materials

A process for decontaminating material containing radioactive contaminants comprising the steps of:

• a. contacting the material with a dissolving composition to dissolve the contaminants in the material, said composition comprising a dilute solution of about 0.03 molar ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, about 0.06 molar carbonate, about 3 grams per liter hydrogen peroxide and an effective amount of sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH of the composition to a pH from about 9 to about 11;
• b. separating the dissolving composition containing the dissolved contaminants from the contacted material;
• and
• c. recovering dissolved contaminants from the dissolving composition that has been separated from the material.

A process for decontaminating material containing radioactive contaminants, comprising the steps of:

• a. contacting the material to be decontaminated with a dissolving composition, the composition comprising an amount of a dilute, basic, carbonate solution sufficient to dissolve the contaminants in the material;
• b. separating the dissolving composition containing the dissolved contaminants from the contacted material;
• and
• c. recovering dissolved contaminants form the dissolving composition that has been separated form the material, by adsorbing the contaminants contained in the dissolving composition on an a cation exchange adsorbent.

A process for decontaminating material containing radioactive contaminants, comprising the steps of:

• a. contacting the material to be decontaminated with a dissolving composition, the composition comprising an amount of a dilute, basic, chelating agent containing, oxidizing agent containing carbonate solution sufficient to dissolve the contaminants in the material;
• b. separating the dissolving composition containing the dissolved contaminants from the contacted material;
• and
• c. recovering dissolved contaminants from the dissolving composition that has been separated from the material by precipitating the contaminants contained in the dissolving composition by destructively oxidizing the chelating agent.

A process for decontaminating material containing radioactive contaminants, comprising the steps of:

• a. contacting the material to be decontaminated with a dissolving composition, the composition comprising an amount of a dilute, basic, chelating agent containing carbonate solution sufficient to dissolve the contaminants in the material;
• b. separating the dissolving composition containing the dissolved contaminants form the contacted material;
• and
• c. recovering dissolved contaminants from the dissolving composition that has been separated from the material, by adsorbing the contaminants contained in the dissolving composition on a selective inorganic cation exchange adsorbent.