Fiber-Optic Laser System (ENR)

The technology uses a powerful, pencil-thin laser beam that is focused onto the contaminated area. The laser beam generates shock waves that eject particles of contamination into the air. Contaminants are then immediately sucked into a vacuum filter for disposal.

Using fiber optics to deliver the laser makes the system flexible and compact. The optical head, which aims the laser beam, is small enough to be hand-held. In hazardous or radioactive environments, it can be positioned by robot or remote manipulator arms to keep workers safe. 

• Improved Safety -- Can be performed remotely, separating workers from contamination.
• Less Secondary Waste -- Unlike most traditional techniques, this generates minimal additional waste (only the air filters are contaminated during the process).
• Less Equipment Contamination -- Expensive equipment not exposed to contamination.
• No Hazardous Chemicals -- Unlike traditional techniques, this decontamination method uses no chemicals and therefore, raises no concerns over safe chemical handling or disposal.
• Reduced Waste Volumes -- The effectiveness and cost-efficiency of this technique may allow certain materials to be recycled rather than stored or disposed of.
• Lower Waste Classifications -- Effective and cost-efficient surface decontamination may allow some difficult-to-handle categories of waste (primarily mixed waste) to be reclassified as easier-to-handle low-level or hazardous wastes.
• Reuse of Valuable Metals -- Metals unusable because of surface contamination may be cleaned sufficiently to allow reuse.
• Reduced Costs-- Automated efficient technique reduces costs of not only decontamination but also overall waste storage and disposal as waste volumes and classifications are reduced.