A process for decontaminating radioactive material comprises the step of contacting the material with a dissolving composition to dissolve the contaminants in the material, said composition comprising a dilute solution of about 0.05 molar ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, about 0.1 molar carbonate, about 10 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. Also included are the steps of separating ...

Method and apparatus for the incineration and vitrification of radioactive waste materials. Waste materials are fed into a melter containing molten glass wherein the waste is incinerated and vitrified into the glass matrix. Gases produced are combusted in an extended plenum area preferably designed to provide a residence time of at least 3 seconds. A portion of the sulfur compounds in the combustion gases are incorporated into a solid matrix of gypsum by contacting the sulfur compounds with an a...

Technetium-contaminated nickel is decontaminated by electrolytically dissolving nickel having a gross beta activity of at least about 74 Bq in a sulfuric acid solution having a pH between about 0.5 and 2.0. The applied voltage is from 2.0 v/cell to 5.0 v/cell for dissolving the nickel and contaminants while cathodically producing hydrogen gas. Technetium (+4) species in the acid solution is oxidized to the technetium (+7) species. The pH of the technetium-containing acid solution is adjusted to ...

A device for handling liquid radioactive waste includes a heater for heating and drying liquid radioactive waste being poured into a container. A pallet, which is preferably formed of metal, receives the container. A ground vehicle transports the pallet. A supplementary heater is part of the pallet.

There is provided radioactive particles having a ceramic matrix and an element which can be bombarded with neutrons to produce a gamma ray-emitting isotope. The particles are manufactured by mixing the ceramic components and the element, forming particles, sintering the particles, and the particles are subsequently made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons. Particles injected into wells or flow apparatus are traced by adding the radioactive particles and detecting the radioactive particles w...

In a method for the safe disposal of radioactive waste, a drilling rig is used to drill a hole or holes near the scource of the radioactive waste. This hole(s) then becomes the deposit chamber(s) for the radioactive waste. After the hole is dug a well casing is cemented in as is done for oil wells. The radioactive waste is put into stainless steel cylinders with a diameter less than that of the well casing, and with a central axial bore hole. These cylinders have screw threads on the top and bot...

A radioactive source is mounted at one end of a rod and a ball-shaped coupler is disposed at the other end of the rod. An apparatus for handling a plurality of radioactive sources respectively mounted at one end of a plurality of rods having a ball-shaped coupler disposed at the other end of each said rod includes a shaft having a canister at one end of the shaft and a clip at another position on the shaft. The canister defines a plurality of compartments for respectively receiving a plurality o...

A method of fabricating a radioactive core to be integrated within a source wire for use in radiation treatment of tumors within the body of a patient utilizes a thin elongate fiber of substantially pure iridium encapsulated in a straight quartz tube substantially transparent to the flux of a beam of radiation. The iridium fiber is oriented lengthwise along the axis of the tube, so that the fiber is restrained from curling. The tube and the fiber therein are irradiated with a beam directed norma...

Disclosed is a closed lumen catheter for facilitating placement of a radiation source within a vessel. A distal portion of at least a first lumen and a second lumen are separated by a moveable wall, allowing a reduced catheter shaft profile. Centering structures, such as one or more inflatable balloons, with perfusion, may be added. Methods are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatuses for irradiating stent structures that are selectively collapsible or reducible along their longitudinal axis to reduce the total length thereof are described. Providing a collapsible stent structure reduces the effective surface area which must be exposed to the radiation beam, thereby reducing the time required for the irradiation process. Stent structures suitable for irradiation using the method and apparatus are also described.