ABSTRACT
Hitachi has developed the chemical decontamination method to remove radioactive oxides on structural materials by alternately using a mixed solution of oxalic acid and hydrazine for a reductive process and potassium permanganate or permanganic acid solution for an oxidative process. In the decontamination of carbon steel (CS) by applying oxalic acid, a film of iron(II) oxalate dihydrate that has low solubility is formed on the CS surface. During the formation of iron(II) oxalate dihydrate, Co-60 in the reductive decontamination solution may be incorporated into the formed film. This phenomenon may cause a decrease in the decontamination efficiency of the CS. A corrosion test of CS in a reductive decontamination solution containing Co-60 as tracer was carried out in order to evaluate this recontamination. It was confirmed that Co-60 was incorporated into the iron(II) oxalate dihydrate film, and the amount of Co-60 increased with increasing formation of this film. About 50% of the Co-60 added to the reductive decontamination solution was incorporated into iron(II) oxalate dihydrate formed on the CS and the Co-60 incorporation ratio was proportional to the iron(II) oxalate dihydrate formation. This result means that the recontamination during chemical decontamination of CS can be predicted.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.