METHOD FOR CLEANING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL

Radioactively contaminated material is cleaned by contacting the material with a decontaminating liquid comprising an aqueous solution of nitric acid containing an NOx generating agent. The NOx generating agent may be a nitrite, for example, sodium nitrite, or a ferrous metal. The material to be cleaned may comprise a plastics material contaminated with uranium or other actinides. Cleaning is effected by placing the material in a rotatable, apertured vessel in which the material is subjected to a leaching cycle by contact with the decontaminating liquid and then a washing cycle in which the material is contacted with a washing liquid.