4.1 The uranium hexfluoride (UF₆), as described in Specifications C787 and C996, has to meet different requirements: one set of requirements being safety, health physics, and criticality and the other set being chemical, physical, and isotopic. To ensure the UF₆ is in compliance with all requirements, sampling and analysis shall be performed. Therefore, packaging may have a significant impact on the quality of UF₆.

4.2 After sampling, the bottle will contain residues. There is contamination because of the equipment, other contamination caused by nonvolatile elements, and isotopic contamination as a result of UF₆ hydrolysis.

4.3 Cleaning shall be efficient. Special emphasis should be given to decontaminate the bottles without leaving any trace of cleaning products, make the bottles inert in UF₆ medium (passivation bottle), and minimize waste. The cleaning process should be easy, safe, and environmentally friendly.

4.4 This practice describes different protocols for cleaning bottles by gas and liquid.