PROCESS FOR REMOVING COPPER AND COPPER OXIDE DEPOSITS FROM SURFACES

摘要

A process for removing elemental copper and copper oxide deposits from a metal surface without first removing iron containing deposits therefrom. The process comprises the step of contacting the surface with an aqueous cleaning solution comprising gaseous oxygen present in an amount sufficient to oxidize at least a substantial portion of the elemental copper deposits present on the surface to copper oxide deposits and sufficient amounts of ammonia and an inorganic ammonium salt to dissolve at least a substantial portion of the copper oxide deposits present on the surface.