Decontamination apparatus for chemically and/or radioactively

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-contained, portable apparatus for cleaning chemical and/or radioactively contaminated articles. A cleaning chamber is provided where contaminated articles are placed. Solvent from a solvent reservoir is sprayed onto the contaminated articles to dissolve the chemical contaminants and to dislodge the radioactive particulates. The solvent and contaminants drain through a short vertical duct connecting the cleaning chamber to the solvent reservoir. There is a cooling means present in the short vertical duct which serves to condense the solvent vaporized during the cleaning operation. A filter means is provided to filter particulate contaminants from the solvent before the solvent is delivered from the solvent reservoir to the cleaning chamber. A high efficiency particulate air filter and an adsorber are connected in series such that the initial atmosphere contained within the cleaning chamber is vented to atmosphere through the high efficiency particulate air filter in the absorber during the initial increase in pressure within the cleaning chamber when spraying of the solvent is commenced. As the cooling means condenses the solvent vapor, the pressure within the apparatus is reduced to subatmospheric pressure thus preventing the possibility of leak of contamination from the apparatus into the atmosphere.