A vacuum assembled along a centerline axis used to collect fissile material. The vacuum includes a housing having internal chamber, a top end having a top opening, a bottom end having a bottom opening, and a radial intake port opening. The vacuum includes a suction apparatus having an intake disposed at the intake opening and having a hose connection means for mating with a vacuum hose assembly. The suction apparatus also includes a flow-through fan disposed in the top opening. The fan intakes and exhausts the airflow in a direction parallel with the centerline axis. The suction apparatus also includes a container connection means disposed at the bottom opening for connecting an external container to bottom end of the housing. There is also provided a first cylindrical free space having a center point disposed along the centerline axis and a diameter passing through the center point. The diameter of the first cylindrical free space is less than or equal to the safe diameter for the fissile material of interest. The vacuum cleaner apparatus is sized to fit entirely within the diameter of the first free space. Therefore, the vacuum apparatus constitutes a single fissile unit that is safe by passive geometry control to prevent the potential for a nuclear criticality in the vacuum.

In a submersible ultrasonic cleaning system for use in highly radioactive environments (e.g., cleaning radiated nuclear fuel assemblies), a bond between energy producing transducers and an radiating wall is strengthened with a polyurethane adhesive such as Permabond PT326, or 3M DP-190 adhesive. In various diagnostic tests, one or more of the transducers are operated in an energy-transmitting mode while one or more other transducers are operated in an energy-detecting mode to detect a weakened transducer/wall bond and/or acoustic conditions of the working fluid.

A radioactive structure dismantling method of a heavy water reactor facility that includes a calandria including a main shell and a sub shell, a calandria vault that receives the calandria therein, and a cover assembly that covers the calandria according to an embodiment, includes: preparing dismantling of the calandria; dismantling a reactor pipe installed in the calandria; dismantling the cover assembly that covers the calandria; dismantling the calandria; and dismantling the calandria vault.

Provided herein is a method for reducing radiologically-contaminated waste. The method comprises treating radiologically-contaminated surfaces, wherein the radiologically-contaminated surfaces are treated with a surface treatment agent; treating radiologically-contaminated subsurfaces, wherein the radiologically-contaminated subsurfaces are treated with a surface/subsurface treatment agent; consolidating soil waste; employing real-time scanning technology to classify waste, wherein the classifying is based at least in part on a threshold of radiological contamination, and wherein the classified waste is sorted based on the classification; and disposing of the waste via at least one of different disposal routes, based at least in part on the classification.

A laser decontamination system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a laser generator generating a laser beam; an optical head inserted inside a pipe and focusing the laser beam on a contamination material inside the pipe for laser ablation; a first optical fiber connecting the laser generator and the optical head and transmitting the laser beam to the optical head; a spectroscope for analyzing a plasma spectrum generated in the pipe by the laser ablation; a second optical fiber connecting the spectroscope and the optical head and transmitting the plasma spectrum to the spectroscope; a dust collector for collecting a dust generated in the pipe by the laser ablation; a dust collection pipe connecting the dust collector and the inside of the pipe and transmitting the dust to the dust collector; and a blocking film positioned between the optical head and the pipe to block the dust.

Sterile barriers or sterile drapes that can be used with medical devices, including hand-held or self-supported X-ray equipment, are described in this application. In particular, this application describes sterile drapes that can be used with a medical device, the drape comprising a closed end portion, a middle portion with a size sufficient to enclose a part of the medical device being used near a patient, and an open end portion, the end portion configured to be closed by a user once the middle portion encloses the part of the medical device being used near a patient, wherein the sterile drape creates a sterile barrier around substantially the entire medical device once the open end is closed. Using the sterile drape allows the medical device, such as a hand-held or self-supported X-ray device, to be used in a medical procedure that requires a sterile field near the patient without disrupting that sterile field. Other embodiments are described.

Methods and systems are provided for treating a contaminated environmental medium. In one example, the treatment includes adding a salt to the contaminated environmental medium to form a slurry. The slurry is heated to irreversibly precipitate a jarosite-group mineral incorporating contaminant cations and contaminant anions into its structure.

Systems, devices, and methods for passing vertical travel robotic tank cleaning systems through openings while mounted to existing riser structures, the system can extend to the bottom of the tank and horizontally more than approximately 30 feet. Plural systems can be used within a tank to break down solid sludge by placing high-pressure nozzle(s) in close proximity to solid waste providing maximum coverage. A mechanical arm with a nozzle assembly utilizes high- and low-pressure fluid streams to fluidize and liquefy solids while directly moving them to a centrally located transfer pump. The systems work in highly radioactive, chemically aggressive, explosive, high temperature and low temperature environments through hydraulic actuation. Multiple axis of freedom allows the arm and nozzle assembly to navigate and clean around internal obstacles and reach close proximity for maximum nozzle impingement force. Systems can be remotely operated up to approximately 1000 feet away.

Methods and systems are provided for treating a contaminated environmental medium. In one example, the treatment includes adding a salt to the contaminated environmental medium to form a slurry. The slurry is heated to irreversibly precipitate a jarosite-group mineral incorporating contaminant cations and contaminant anions into its structure.

A suctionable gel for eliminating a contaminating species contained in an organic layer on the surface of a material, consisting of a colloidal solution comprising, preferably consisting of: 1 wt % to 25 wt %, preferably 5 wt % to 20 wt % based on the total weight of the gel, of at least one inorganic viscosifying agent; 13 wt % to 99 wt %, preferably 80 wt % to 95 wt % based on the total weight of the gel, of an organic solvent selected among the terpenes and the mixtures thereof; optionally, 0.01 wt % to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the gel, of at least one dye and/or pigment; optionally 0.1 wt % to 2 wt %, based on the total weight of the gel, of at least one surfactant. The disclosure further relates to a decontamination method using the gel.