Decontamination studies: Battelle-Northwest Laboratories, December 1964-- August 1965

From ninth meeting of the USAEC reactor decontamination information exchange group; Washington, District of Columbia, USA (1 Sep 1965). The decontamination activity described includes: laboratory studies to evaluate reagents, and actual decontamination of 2 steam generators at New Production Reactor. ln laboratory tests, a proprietery oxalic acid solution appeared to be more effective th:dn sny other tried. No excessive corrosion was noted. Special reegents to dissolve high fired ceramic core materials (UO/sub 2/ and PuO/sub 2/) are being developed and evaluated. Phosphorous acid, sulfuric acid and a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids were effective. Corrosion of 304 stainless steel was low. Two N Reactor steam generators were decontaminated to facilitate inspection and repair. The APSUL procedure was tried, but control of concentrations was inadequate and decontamination factors were low, ranging from 1.6 to 9.0. No excessive corrosion was noted. (auth