Methods for vaporization and remediation of radioactive contamination

摘要

A method for collecting volatile radioactive substances. The method includes irradiating a volatile radioactive substance on or under a contaminated material surface using microwave radiation and vaporizing the volatile radioactive substance, wherein the volatile radioactive substance comprises at least one of cesium and iodine. The method further includes recovering the vaporized volatile radioactive substance from the contaminated material. The method may be accomplished with and/or without physically collecting or isolating the contaminated material.

主权项

1. A method for collecting volatile radioactive substances from contaminated materials found on the surface of the earth, comprising:
providing a collection device including a collection hood, a microwave radiation source coupled to said collection hood, and a recovery unit in fluid communication with said hood; suspending said collection hood over earth surface material; irradiating a volatile radioactive substance on or under said earth surface material with microwave radiation from said microwave radiation source and vaporizing the volatile radioactive substance, wherein said volatile radioactive substance comprises at least one of cesium and iodine; collecting said volatile radioactive substance in said collection hood; and recovering said vaporized volatile radioactive substance from said earth surface material by drawing said vaporized volatile radioactive substance into said recovery unit.