FR2570542A1 - DEVICE FOR DECONTAMINATING OBJECTS FOR THE REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANT SUBSTANCES - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION CONCERNS A PROCESS AND AN APPARATUS FOR DECONTAMINING OBJECTS SUCH AS TOOLS, EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS CONTAMINATED BY RADIOACTIVE, AND / OR TOXIC, AND / OR BIOLOGICAL AND / OR CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES. THE OBJECTS ARE PLACED IN A CLEANING CHAMBER 10 AND THERE ARE SPRAYED ON THESE, BY SPRAYING, AT 14 AND 18 A SOLVENT UNDER HIGH PRESSURE; THE SOLVENT RELEASES CONTAMINANT PARTICLES AND DISSOLVES CHEMICAL AGENTS AND IS DISCHARGED TO A DISTILLATION APPARATUS 24 WHICH CONTAINS A NEUTRALIZING AGENT SUPPRESSING THE ACTIVITY OF BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS AND TOXIC AND OXIDIZING CHEMICALLY SUBSTANCES. THE PURE SOLVENT VAPOR IS CONDENSED IN A TANK 62 WITH A VIEW TO ITS REUSE IN THE SPRAYING OPERATION AND THEN THE OBJECTS ARE DRIED BY CIRCULATION OF UNSATURATED HOT SOLVENT VAPOR IN THE CLEANING CHAMBER. DECONTAMINATION IS OPERATED AT A PRESSURE LOWER THAN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE TO PREVENT THE ESCAPE OF CONTAMINANT SUBSTANCES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE EVENT OF LEAKS OCCURRING.

Description

DEVICE FOR DECONTAMINATING OBJECTS FOR THE REMOVAL OF

  RADIOACTIVE, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANT SUBSTANCES

  The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for decontaminating tools, equipment and weapons, and more specifically to the removal of radioactive particulate matter, chemical agents, toxins and the like. biological agents that can be found on tools, equipment and

weapons.

  A common method used by the military to decontaminate objects contaminated with radioactive, chemical and biological contaminants is to wash them with an aqueous solution of super-tropical lye, usually calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite. Sometimes, the military adds caustic substances to this aqueous solution to form what they refer to as DS2 (decontamination solvent number 2). Such a combination is simply a mixture of a detergent and a caustic. This method is effective for decontamination of non

  electronic devices, such as metal surfaces, walls and

  Dear. Similarly, the mixture can be used to remove contamination from human skin provided that the mixture does not pass around the face or eyes. The problem is that once the decontamination of the human skin is finished, this skin must be washed again with clean water to remove the lye and caustic that would otherwise start burning the skin due to the pH. of the mixture. This mixture of an aqueous solution of super-tropical lye and caustic also attacks the metal surfaces and has an extremely destructive effect on electronic and electromechanical equipment. As a result, the mixture is not

  used to decontaminate electronic equipment, electro-

  mechanical and optical when you want to reuse such equipment

after decontamination.

  Another common method used by the military for decontamination involves hot air. A hot air gun

  resembling a hand-held hair dryer is designed to work

  from the exhaust gases of a car or truck or to operate from its own portable power source, which runs on diesel fuel. Hot air is produced at a rate of about 2832 l / min at a temperature of about 230 C (450 F). The gun is directed at contaminated surfaces to blow free debris and volatilize chemicals or toxins on the surface. The high temperature is imposed by the fact that most of the chemical agents and toxins encountered by the military have low vapor pressure. While hot air is directed to the contaminated surface, a vacuum hose is sometimes used in cooperation with the air gun to draw air from the vicinity of the surface of the object being decontaminated. , thereby propelling the contaminants removed from the surface away from the air actuating the gun. A major disadvantage of this hot air blowing process is that none of the contaminants removed from the surface are neutralized. Contaminants are simply removed from one place and transported to another location. Obviously, this can

  provoke recontamination of the equipment being decontaminated

  or contamination of other equipment which should in turn be decontaminated. There is also a problem with regard to thermal deformation. The temperature of 230 C of the hot air coming out of the gun can deform the plastics and the basic materials of which electronic components are formed or at least make sure that these materials are subjected to a severe contrafnte. As a result, the process is very often destructive of

  equipment being decontaminated.

  When used in a closed environment, the operator must be fully equipped with protective clothing, including a respirator. It is then likely to suffer a thermal shock because the ambient temperature in the closed environment increases almost immediately to the temperature of the hot air produced by the gun. It is estimated that a man could operate in such an environment only for a period of less than 15 (fifteen) minutes. During this time, he must direct the airflow coming out of the gun literally on every cm2 of equipment being decontaminated. In addition, none of these existing processes operate on radioactive contamination or on radioactive contaminating substances in combination with chemical and / or biological contaminating substances. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for decontaminating tools, equipment and weapons contaminated with radioactive particulates,

  chemical agents as well as toxins and biological agents.

  Another object of the present invention is to create a decontamination method and apparatus which is non-destructive for

  items being decontaminated.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a

  process and to create an apparatus for the decontamination of

  contaminated with radioactive, chemical and biological contaminants, which capture and trap contaminants

  once removed from the element.

  In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for decontaminating tools, equipment and weapons contaminated with biological contaminating substances and toxins, including toxins such as anthrax, salmonella, botulinum. , a mycotoxin commonly referred to as "yellow rain" and other viruses and bacteria that could be used in

  war or terrorist activities.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a decontamination method and apparatus, this apparatus being autonomous and relatively easy to transport so that it can be moved from one place to another and thus be usable under the conditions of the present invention.

battlefield.

  Another object of the present invention is to create a method and

  equipment for decontaminating objects contaminated with

  chemical and biological contaminants and toxins, which is capable of capturing and confining the contaminating substances, once they are removed from the objects, and which destroy these same contaminating substances in order to produce a non-toxic and safe residue

for landfilling.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a decontamination method and apparatus which operates under a negative pressure such that, in the event of a leakage, no leakage will occur.

  contaminant are discharged into the atmosphere.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for decontamination which uses a solvent which

  is a dielectric that allows electronic equipment to function-

  and be tested during the decontamination process.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a decontamination method and apparatus which utilizes a washing agent which is a better solvent than the chemical agents being removed so that the chemical agents are dissolved.

  in the washing agent and removed from the equipment to be decontaminated.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for decontamination where the solvent vapor enters the internal parts of the object being decontaminated and condenses on the internal surfaces of this object by dissolving thus washing off the contaminating substances

  exist in the internal parts of the object being decontaminated.

mine.

  Other features, purposes and benefits of this

  invention will be highlighted in the detailed description that goes

  follow, made with reference to the attached drawing. These features, goals and benefits are achieved by using a high pressure spray nozzle directing a solvent on the object being decontaminated thereby dissolving the chemicals and toxins while simultaneously detaching and dislodging the particulate contaminating substances.

radioactive and biological.

  A sputtering of the object being decontaminated with a high pressure solvent spray is performed in a closed chamber. The liquid solvent then containing contaminant particles and dissolved chemical contaminants is discharged from the chamber via a particle trap. The contaminated solvent is then collected and distilled. There is provided in the distillation vessel a layer of neutralizing agent composed of a

  mixture of an aqueous solution of calcium hypochlorite or hypochlorite

  rite of sodium and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The concentration of the aqueous solution of calcium or sodium hypochlorite must be greater than 10% and the concentration of hydroxide of

  Sodium or potassium hydroxide should be greater than 1.0 normal.

  Biological contaminants coming into contact with this neutralizing agent are destroyed. Chemical contaminants coming into contact with this neutralizing agent are chemically decomposed into non-toxic or less toxic substances. The density of the neutralizing agent is lower than the density of the solvent and, in addition, the neutralizing agent is not miscible with the solvent,

  since the neutralizing agent has a polar chemical configuration.

  As a result, the neutralizing agent floats in the form of a layer on

  the top of the contaminated solvent in the distillate container

  lation. Any chemical agent that tends to migrate from the distillation apparatus with the solvent vapor generated therein must first pass through this layer of neutralizing agent. During the

  contact with the neutralizing agent layer, the contami-

  chemicals are broken down into heavier components

  deposit in the distillation vessel, ensuring that

  a contaminant does not escape from this distillation vessel with the solvent vapor. The solvent vapor thus generated is then condensed and collected in a tank of pure solvent from

  from which it can be pumped back to the spray gun.

  at high pressure for further decontamination. The distillation rate may be approximately equal to or slightly less than the rate at which the solvent is sprayed for decontamination and, as a result, the decontamination can proceed almost continuously. At the end of the removal of the contaminating substances from the object being decontaminated, the object is dried by circulation of hot solvent vapor in a closed loop comprising the cleaning chamber, a condenser and a heater . The hot steam is used to dry the equipment, while the condenser is used to desaturate the steam before it is heated and recycled to the cleaning chamber.

for another drying.

  Given the small size required for the equipment, it is adaptable especially for use as a portable decontamination device. In addition, because a decontamination can be carried out in a continuous manner, the invention is especially usable by the military for the decontamination of tools, equipment, weapons and the like on or near a combat site. . In the case of complicated electronic and optical equipment currently used in the military field, there is an even greater need to use the decontamination process.

  of the present invention. Conventional methods of decontamination

  nation have quite destructive effects on these types of equipment. The

  solvent used in the present invention, namely trichlorotri-

  fluoroethane, is fully compatible with these electronic equipment.

  complicated optics and optics. In addition, because trichlorotrifluo-

  is an excellent dielectric, electronic equipment can

  to be used while decontamination is being carried out

  killed. Other advantages and features of the invention will be

  highlighted in the following description, given by way of example

  non-limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure shows a schematic view of the apparatus built

  according to the present invention.

  Diagrammatically shown in the figure a system of

  decontamination arranged in accordance with the present invention. The apparent

  Decontamination fencing according to this invention comprises a cleaning chamber 10 in which tools, equipment, weapons and the like can be placed for decontamination. Objects placed in it may have been contaminated with radioactive particulate matter, contaminating toxins,

  chemical contaminants and / or biological contaminants.

  Chemical contaminating substances can be heavy metals,

  toxic organic materials, cyanotic compounds, pesticides and

  or the types of innervating and vesicant agents used by the military in chemical weapons. They include: the tabun, the

  sarin, soman, and mustard gas. The types of contami-

  Biological toxins or toxins encountered may include salmonella, botulinum, anthrax, and a mycotoxin commonly referred to as "yellow rain," which is often a toxin.

  often referred to as "toxic substances".

  It is provided inside the cleaning chamber 10 un-

  bearing grid 12 on which the object to be decontaminated is placed. The load-bearing grid 12 has an open configuration so that a

  liquid and a vapor as well as particles of

  nantes can pass through. There is also provided in the cleaning chamber 10 a high-pressure solvent spray gun 14. The high-pressure solvent spray gun 14 can be manipulated from outside the cleaning chamber 10 by means of a flexible glove 16. The flexible glove 16 also allows the manipulation of the object being decontaminated. There is provided at the top of the cleaning chamber 10 a series of fixed spray nozzles 18 that can be used either as a replacement for the high-pressure spray gun 14 or in addition to it. When pure solvent is sprayed on the object being decontaminated, the solvent releases and dislodges contaminant particles while simultaneously dissolving the chemicals and toxins. The solvent, thus containing both dissolved and suspended contaminating substances, is discharged through the supporting grid 12, a macro-particle siphon 20 and a pipe 22 into a distillation vessel 24. The vessel 24 is heated by a heating device 26 to the boiling point of the solvent. The heater 26 may be a conventional coil-type heater or it may operate with a waste heat recovery system that recovers heat from the evaporator coil 42. Use of the heater 26 with a waste heat recovery system would have a

  energy efficiency and would, therefore, be more

  This invention is intended for use in many conditions, particularly on a battlefield where energy sources may be scarce. There is provided a temperature controller 124 which detects the temperature in the vapor phase of the distillation vessel 24. Upon detection of a rise in the temperature of the vapor phase

  above the boiling point of the solvent, the temperature controller

  Fig. 124 stops heating device 26 so as not to overheat distillation vessel 24 or to boil off

the neutralizing agent.

  There is provided a tank of neutralizing agent 28 containing a mixture

  of concentrated lye and caustic having a pH of about 12.

  The neutralizing agent can be obtained by dissolving hydroxyl

  sodium or potassium solid in an aqueous solution of at least% calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite, so that

  the solution contains at least 1.0 normal hydroxide. The neutral agent

  reading is introduced into the distillation tank 24- from the tank

  neutralizing agent 28 by means of a conduit 30 in which is available

a control valve 32.

  When an attempt is made to switch on the apparatus of the present invention, a level detector switch 34 located within the distillation vessel 24 determines that there is a correct level of distillation vessel 24 therein. neutralizing agent. If a sufficient level of neutralizing agent does not exist in the distillation vessel 24, the control valve 32 opens automatically by discharging a certain amount of neutralizing agent from the vessel 28 via the conduit 30 into the vessel. distillation vessel 24. There is provided a second level detection switch 36 which is placed at

  the interior of the neutralizing agent tank 28. In the case where

  A sufficient quantity of neutralizing agent would not be present in the tank 24 and in the event that there was no longer any neutralizing agent in the tank of neutralizing agent 28, the apparatus did not operate. In addition, if there exists in the neutralization agent tank 28 a certain amount of neutralizing agent which is discharged into the distillation tank 24 but which is not sufficient to raise the level of the neutralizing agent to what is desired inside the distillation vessel 24, the

  level 34 sense contactor prevents the switchgear

  ner. When a sufficient level of neutralizing agent exists in the distillation vessel 24, the level detection switch 34 allows the

  continued operation of the equipment.

  It is preferable to use a conductivity type probe for

  the level 34 sense contactor, since the neutralizing agent

  It is conductive and thus enables level detection. However, because trichlorotrifluoroethane is dielectric, the equipment is not put into service by placing a certain amount of solvent in the distillation vessel 24. When the solvent containing dissolved and suspended contaminating substances is collected in the tank 24, the neutralizing agent which has a polar configuration and which is therefore not miscible with the solvent and which is less dense than the solvent, floats in the form of a contiguous layer above the contaminated solvent . When the solvent begins to boil in the distillation vessel 24, the resulting vapor must first pass through the neutralizing agent layer and thus enter into contact with it, progressing to the top of the liquid solvent. All the chemical agents attempting to escape with the solvent vapor are chemically oxidized by the neutralizing agent and are finally converted into a residue deposited at the bottom of the distillation vessel 24 in a much less toxic form

  after completion of the distillation.

  The neutralizing agent also serves to destroy biological contaminants and toxins. It is important that no contaminating substance can escape with the freon vapor from the distillation vessel 24, as this would cause recontamination of the tools, equipment or weapons during a later stage of use or the This could create a steam hazard for the operator when he opens the cleaning chamber at the end of the cycle. It must be taken into account that agents used in chemical weapons can kill or poison even with

  concentrations of the order of a few parts per million.

  The solvent vapor produced in the distillation vessel 24 passes into a conduit 38 and convects into an evaporator housing 40. The evaporator housing 40 is housed in the lower half of the cleaning chamber 10. evaporator coil 42 is disposed in the evaporator housing 40. The evaporator housing 40 collects solvent condensed by the evaporator coil 42 for channeling through a conduit 44 into a separator. Water 46. A deflector plate 48 is placed above the evaporator coil 42. The deflector plate 48 prevents the solvent containing dissolved and suspended contaminants from falling into the evaporator housing 40 thereby preventing the contaminating substances reach the water separator 46 via the

leads 44.

  At the beginning of the use of the system according to the present invention, some solvent vaporization takes place immediately after spraying by the high-pressure spray gun 14 or the series of spray nozzles 18. This vaporization is a cause for in the cleaning chamber a positive pressure which is undesirable for two reasons. First, the flexible gloves 16

2570542

  could possibly be pushed back outside the cleaning chamber or even burst. Second, in case it occurs

  leaks in the equipment, contaminating substances escape

  would create a hazard to the operator and others in the immediate vicinity. As a result

  therefore, it is highly desirable to make the

  trailing under a slight negative pressure. A slight negative pressure is established according to the present invention by using a conduit 52, a carbon column 54 and a hepa filter 56. When the apparatus begins to operate, an isolation valve 50 is opened. When solvent spraying begins, vaporization of the solvent establishes a positive initial pressure in the cleaning chamber, causing steam to escape from the cleaning chamber 10 through the isolation valve 50 and the conduit 52. to the carbon column 54 and the hepa filter 56. The carbon column 54 adsorbs the solvent vapor and traces of agents

  while the hepa filter 56 prevents the escape of

  contaminants in the atmosphere. Hepa 56 is a high performance particulate air filter designed to remove 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns. As a result, what actually escapes into the atmosphere is air as originally contained in the equipment. In addition, it should be noted that although the deflector plate 48

  prevents contaminated liquid solvent from falling into the evaporator housing

  40, it does not prevent the flow of solvent vapor, which is necessarily pure, from entering the evaporator housing 40 and

  pass on the evaporator coil 42, where it is condensed into

  There is a slight negative pressure in the cleaning chamber 10. The differential pressure between the cleaning chamber 10 and the atmosphere is not large enough to cause air to flow back through.

  of the hepa filter 56 and the carbon column 54 in order to equalize the pressure

  in and out of the cleaning chamber 10 and, consequently,

  The equipment operates under a slight negative pressure. The valve 50 remains open during the entire operation. If the valve 50

  was closed after the expulsion of air through the column

  54 and the hepa filter 56, the subsequent condensation of the solvent vapor by the evaporator coil 42 would produce inside the cleaning chamber 10 a negative pressure sufficiently high to

  cause the explosion of flexible gloves 16.

  The water separator 46 is necessary because the water and the

  trichlorotrifluoroethane form azeotrope at about 45 C (112 F).

  Since the neutralizing agent is an aqueous solution, there is still water in the distillation vessel 24. In addition, it is quite likely that there is some moisture in the air introduced into the cleaning chamber when loading of the contaminated element. When the condensed water and the condensed solvent are collected in the water separator 46, phase separation occurs. Water is discharged back to distillation vessel 24 through line 58. Inverted J-shaped tube 60 allows pure condensed solvent to flow from water separator 46 into the solvent tank 62. The transfer pump 64 draws solvent into the tank 62 via a conduit 66 and delivers the solvent through the conduit 68, the valve 70, the adsorption vessel 72

  the duct 74, the filter 76 and the duct 78. A pump with high pres-

  80 has a suction effect in the conduit 78 via

  82. The flow rate of the transfer pump 64 is greater than

  the high-pressure pump 80, so that this high-pressure pump 80 is always supplied with sufficient solvent and does not pump dry. The solvent which has not been sucked by the high pressure pump 80 is returned to the solvent tank 62 via the valve 84 and the conduit 86. The high pressure pump 80 discharges the

  solvent through line 88 in the discharge valve

  90. From the relief valve 90, pure solvent is supplied

  fixed nozzles 18 or spray gun

  14 or both via conduit 92. It is

  provided an anti-ram 94 which is placed in the conduit 92 to uniquely

  form the flow from the high pressure pump 80 because this pump 80 is a piston type pump producing a pressure

  about 140 bar. There is provided a ball valve 96 disposed in the conduit 92 and which controls the flow of pure solvent to the

fixed spray nozzles 18.

  The adsorption vessel 72 preferably utilizes Fuller's earth as an adsorbing agent but may also use activated charcoal, activated alumina or silica gel. The adsorption container 72 serves to remove all traces of chemical agents which

  may have in some way reached the floor pan.

  62, thereby ensuring that the solvent sprayed into the

  cleaning chamber 10 is absolutely not contaminated.

  The spraying of the pure solvent in the cleaning chamber 10 is carried out at a maximum flow rate of about 9 l / min. When the operator needs a solvent flow of less than 9 I / min, the excess volume

  then discharged by the high-pressure pump 80 flows through the

  of the relief valve 90 in the conduit 98 and returns to the

  62. When the operator stops the spraying completely

  all the volume of solvent delivered by the high-pressure pump 80 returns, via the relief valve 90 and the

  conduit 98, in the solvent tank 62.

  Alternatively, the high pressure pump 80 can draw solvent directly into the tank 62 via a conduit 100.

  provided in the conduit 100, a purge valve 102, an isolating valve

  104 and a filter 106. With such a mode of operation, the pump of

  Transfer 64 and adsorption vessel 72 would not be used.

  The filter 76 and / or the adsorption container 72 can be emptied via a valve 108 into the conduit 98,

  back to the solvent tank 62. This allows the filter 76 to be cleaned.

  There is provided a level detector switch 110 which is placed in the solvent tank 62. In the case where the contactor 110 detects a low level in the solvent tank 62, indicating that, for some reason, the distillation does not occur. product not sufficiently fast, the level 110 sense contactor, stops the operation of

all the equipment.

  The heater 26 may be a conventional coil type heater or may operate with a

  waste heat recovery system recovering the heat escapes

  pant of the evaporator coil 42.

  When the decontamination of the equipment is complete, it is-

  desirable, before removing it from the cleaning chamber 10, to dry

  the equipment of any solvent. Drying is ensured by a fan

  114 which sucks the solvent from the evaporator housing 40 through a conduit 116. The discharge of air and steam from the fan 114 is effected via a conduit 118, a heater 120, a conduit 122 into the cleaning chamber 10. In this way, clean solvent vapor flows around the decontaminated equipment ensuring its drying. Steam circulates around the decontaminated element and around the evaporator coil 42 where condensation is carried out thereby producing a desaturation of the steam being recycled in the conduit 116 and returned to the fan 114, in addition to

  so is a continuous drying loop. When decontamination equipment

  and the inside of the cleaning chamber 10 appear dry to the operator performing a visual check, the equipment is removed from the

cleaning room.

  As indicated above, the distillation of the contaminated solvent is carried out at a rate which is a little lower than the rate at which clean solvent is sprayed on equipment being decontaminated. The combination of a surplus of solvent existing in the tank 62 and the fact that a spraying is not carried out during the entire service of the equipment, allow to have a distillation rate that is lower than the spray rate all by also ensuring that the equipment can perform repeated and consecutive decontamination operations. This distillation rate is preferably at

  less than the total pulverized flow, divided by the total time required

  to load the equipment to be decontaminated in the chamber of

  10, plus the time required for spraying and decontamination.

  tamination of the equipment, plus the time required for drying the equipment, plus the time required to unload the equipment out of the cleaning chamber 10. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, although the spraying may at a flow rate of about 9 l / min, the distillation can be carried out at a flow rate of about 4.5 l / min and it is still ensured to obtain a complete supply of pure solvent from the solvent tank 62 for decontamination

  following equipment to be decontaminated.

  It is envisaged that the distillation vessel 24 will be drained to periodically evacuate the spent neutralizing agent as well as the radioactive, chemical, toxic and biological contaminants which have

collected in this tank.

  It should be noted that the maintenance of the apparatus of the present invention can be carried out during periods of rest with relative safety with respect to the contaminating substances contained in the distillation vessel 24. This is explained by the fact that no contaminating substance exists inside the equipment except

  those collected in distillation vessel 24.

  The system can be designed so that the high pressure pump

  The solvent is delivered at a pressure of several hundred bar (thousands of psi). In the preferred embodiment, the high pressure pump 80 solvent flow rate of about 9 1 / min and a

pressure of about 140 bar.

  The description above shows that this invention is well

  adapted to achieve all the objectives and goals defined above, in

  at the same time as other advantages which are obvious and which are intrinsically

at the switchgear.

  It is obvious that certain peculiarities and sub-combinations

  are useful and can be used in conjunction with other

  larities and sub-combinations. This falls within the scope of the claims

  tions. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the modes of

  described and represented, but it is likely to

  many variants accessible to those skilled in the art without our being

  departs from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (25)

  1. A method for purifying a solvent containing contaminating substances of a radioactive and / or chemical and / or toxic and / or biological nature, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a. contacting said contaminated solvent with a neutralizing agent to deactivate toxic and / or biological contaminants suspended in said solvent and to oxidize chemical contaminants dissolved in said solvent thereby passing toxic, and / or chemical and / or biological in a non-toxic form; b. distilling said contaminated solvent to then produce a solvent free of contaminating substances by vaporizing said solvent while leaving said neutralizing agent and said radioactive contaminating substances, and / or chemical and / or toxic and / or   within the distillation apparatus.   2. A method for purifying a contaminated solvent which has been used for washing off radioactive and / or chemical and / or toxic and / or biological contaminating substances from tools, equipment and weapons. characterized in that it comprises: a. passing said contaminated solvent through a layer of neutralizing agent to partially deactivate the toxic and / or biological contaminating substances suspended in said solvent and to partially oxidize the contaminating substances dissolved in said solvent; b.distilling said contaminated solvent by passing said solvent vapor generated by said distillation through said neutralizing agent layer so that the chemical agents attempting to escape with said solvent vapor come into contact with said solvent layer; neutralizing agent, oxidize in the form of heavier non-toxic components and are removed from said solvent vapor.   3. A method for decontaminating tools, equipment and weapons contaminated with radioactive contaminating substances, and / or toxic and / or chemical and / or biological, characterized in that it consists in: a. contaminated equipment in a cleaning room; b.spray onto the equipment a solvent under high pressure to thereby dissolve the chemical contaminants and dislodge the contaminant particles;   collect the solvent containing both the contaminated substances   dissolved and suspended; and   d. contacting the collected solvent with a neutralizing agent   reading to deactivate the toxic and / or biological contaminants suspended in the collected solvent and to oxidize the chemical contaminating substances dissolved in the collected solvent, thus passing toxic, and / or chemical and / or biological contaminants in a form nontoxic. 4. A process according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: a. Distilling the solvent to produce uncontaminated solvent vapor; and b. condensing the uncontaminated solvent vapor generated in   said distillation step in a tank for   solvent in said spraying step.   5. A process according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of:   a.- condensing said solvent vapor in said pulverization step   thereby maintaining the pressure in said cleaning chamber at a value below atmospheric pressure;   b. discharge the cleaning chamber into the atmosphere.   by means of an adsorption column and a filter so as to damp the water hammer caused by said spraying step and so that the system air is purged leaving most of the steam solvent which rapidly condenses and thus promotes the establishment of a negative atmospheric pressure.   6. A process according to claim 4, characterized in that   further comprises the step of adsorbing all traces of sub-   chemical contaminating stains contained in the solvent before said spray step.   7. A process according to claim 6, characterized in that said adsorption step is carried out in an adsorption agent chosen from the group comprising: - Fuller's earth, active alumina, activated carbon, silica gel and earth of diatoms.   8. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that said   solvent is trichlorotrifluoroethane.   9. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that said neutralizing agent is a mixture of a concentrated aqueous solution of hypochlorite and a caustic. 10. A process according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises the step of drying the decontaminated equipment   after completion of said spraying step.   11. A process according to claim 8, characterized in that said drying step comprises circulating solvent vapor.   hot unsaturated through the cleaning chamber.   12. Apparatus for decontaminating objects such as tools, equipment and weapons contaminated with contaminating substances   radioactive and / or toxic and / or biological and / or chemical ing:   a.- a cleaning chamber (10) for supporting the contaminated equipment   containing the contaminating substances during the decontamination   mination; b. high pressure spraying means (14, 18, 80) for spraying a solvent onto the equipment being decontaminated in order to dislodge the contaminating particles therefrom and to dissolve the chemical contaminating substances on the surface and inside equipment being decontaminated; draining means (12, 20, 22) for discharging said solvent containing dissolved and suspended contaminating substances from said cleaning chamber (10) into a separate and distinct container (24); d.- neutralizing agent means to render non-toxic   chemical and / or toxic and / or biological contaminants   gates discharged from said cleaning chamber (10) into   said separate and distinct container (24) with said solvent.   13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said separate and distinct container is a distillation apparatus (24)   for vaporizing said solvent while the contaminated substances   nantes remain in liquid or solid phase.   14. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that   said neutralizing agent is a mixture in a concentrated aqueous solution   laundry and caustic.   15. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said neutralizing agent is an aqueous solution, at least 10%, sodium hypochlorite containing at least one hydroxide at 1.0 N, by   dissolution of an element of the next group in said solution of hypo-   calcium chlorite: a.- sodium hydroxide, b.- potassium hydroxide.   16. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said neutralizing agent is an aqueous solution, at least 10%, sodium hypochlorite containing at least one hydroxide at 1.0 N.   dissolution of an element of the next group in said solution of hypo-   sodium chlorite: a.- sodium hydroxide, b.- potassium hydroxide.   17. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that   said solvent is trichlorotrifluoroethane.   Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises: a. Discharge means (50) for preventing large pressure surges in said cleaning chamber (10); b. an absorption means (54) disposed in said discharge means for preventing said solvent and dissolved contaminants from escaping through said discharge means; filter means (56) disposed in said discharge means for preventing particles from escaping through said discharge means; and   d.- a condenser placed inside said cleaning chamber   yage (10) for condensing said solvent vapor generated during spraying so that said condenser and said discharge means are capable of sputtering.   solvent on equipment being decontaminated at a pressure of   below atmospheric pressure.   19. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises an adsorption means (72) for removing traces of chemical contaminants of said solvent before spraying. 1970542   20. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said adsorption means (72) uses Fuller's earth as adsorption agent. 21. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said adsorption means (72) uses activated carbon as adsorption agent. 22. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said adsorption means (72) uses activated alumina as adsorption agent. 23. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said adsorption means (72) uses a silica gel as adsorption agent. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said adsorption means (72) uses diatomaceous earth as adsorption agent.   25. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said neutralizing agent is immiscible with said solvent and floats in the form of a contiguous layer above said solvent in said distillation apparatus (24) so that the steam generated in said distillation apparatus must pass through said agent   neutralizing by preventing the escape of   chemical solvents with said solvent vapor out of said distillation (24).