Method and apparatus for decontamination of sensitive equipment

Abstract

Ultrasonic solvent cleaning processes can effectively decontaminate sensitive equipment. The disclosed decontamination liquids meet the following criteria: Ultrasonic agitation provides effective mass and physical transfer of contaminants from the surfaces of the objects being decontaminated to the bulk of the decontamination liquid. Contaminant removal occurs in three steps: removal of the contaminant from the surface of the part being processed, transfer of the dissolved or suspended contaminant into the bulk of the decontamination liquid in the immersion sump, and then removal of the dissolved contaminant by activated carbon adsorption, or suspended contaminant by filtration. Biological contaminants are also effectively removed or inactivated by immersion and sonication in decontamination fluid or solutions of a soluble surfactant in decontamination fluid. Activated carbon beds and filters that come into contact with contaminated liquid can be contained in commercially available housings that shield the system operator from any contained toxic contents. These sealable containers, and their contents, can be destroyed by standard methods, such as incineration. Spectrographic fluorimetry can detect extremely low levels (of the order of 10 ppt) of fluorescent dyes dissolved in decontamination fluid. Decontamination of sensitive equipment in decontamination fluid can be performed in commercially available ultrasonic vapor degreasers.