Decontamination device for radiation-contaminated metal

Liquid electrolytes in an electrolytic vessel are passed through a recycling line and supplied by a supply pump to a jet nozzle disposed in a decontaminating vessel directing toward the metals to be processed. Further, trivalent curium ions contained in an aqueous solution of nitric acid or sulfuric acid are converted into tetravalent ions by electrolytic oxidation in the electrolytic vessel. The liquid electrolytes having an oxidizing power of the tetravalent cerium ions thus formed and less corrosive blasting particles such as glass beads are mixed together, and jetted out from the nozzle. The radiation-contaminated metal surfaces are peeled off by the impact shocks and the metals are dissolved and decontaminated by the oxidizing effect of the tetravalent cerium ions. In view of the above, the uneven surfaces of the radioactive metals to be processed can be dissolved reliably to reduce the amount of secondary wastes formed. (T.M.)