cooling systems when such surfaces are exposed to the molten metal cooling composition as described above however if oxidizing capacity is excessive characterized by the generation of lead oxide and bismuth oxide in the molten metal cooling composition which would collect and float in a separator a reduced flow rate of the molten metal cooling composition will occur due to an accumulation of oxides in the molten metal cooling composition e g lead oxide it has been reported that in one russian nuclear powered submarine lead oxide accumulation reduced coolant circulation through the reactor core and reduced reactor power the operator misinterpreted the plant response and withdrew the control rods as a result of the operator 39 s misinterpretation the reactor reached melted down stage due to increased temperature and reduced molten metal cooling composition flow with respect to the importance of maintaining the molten metal cooling composition in a substantially lead oxide free state a reduction process is provided for use as needed in particular the reduction of lead oxide occurs by introducing a reducing agent into the molten metal cooling composition when necessary typical reducing agents include carbon optimally in solid particulate form acetone hydrogen methane ethane propane butane pentane octane mixtures thereof or equivalents thereto the lead oxide reacts with the reducing agent to produce lead this process is illustrated below in reaction equations 8 9 and 10 employing respectively methane reactions 8 and 9 and hydrogen reaction 10 in representative and non limiting embodiments referring to fig4 the reactions of methane and lead oxide according to equation 8 and hydrogen and lead oxide according to equation 10 can occur at any temperature above zero degrees celsius while the reduction reaction of methane and lead oxide as per equation 9.