RE: Cesium Chloride Removal

[jdelahunt@cc.colorado.edu]

>I thought I would attempt to tap the vast knowledge base out there.  I am
>looking for any "tricks" out there to remove cesium chloride contamination
>from some textured formica and floor tiles.  Merk index lists it as Very
>soluble in water and soluble in alcohol.  I have used both and also various
>mixtures of commercial decon products with limited success in removal.  I
>remove a lot initially, but most is (fixed?).  Any hints out there other
>than removal of tiles and formica.

Cesium chloride (for all intent and purposes) is the
chemical equiv of sodium chloride/table salt w/r/t
solubility.

If it doesn't come up with water, try warm water.  If it
doesn't come up with warm water, it's probably the oxide,
hydroxide or the carbonate, any of which should come up
with vinegar (or any other dilute acid solution).

Failing that, a more concentrated mineral acid should be
able to attack the contamination w/o attacking the tiles -
like 6 M HCl, for example.

Failing that, 10 or so kilograms of plutonium, compressed at
high speed near the contamination, should suffice to make it
impossible to see.

I wonder what application requires such measures, though. 
CsCl = salt, near as I can tell.

Hope this helps.

John

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That last decon method was a JOKE, btw.  Jes' my wry sense
of humor preventing me from using smilies.