The Chemical Oxidation Reduction (CORD) process is used to remove oxide films from metal surfaces without needing replacement of fluid contents of a system. It adds permanganic acid as a first step to oxidize the chromium to the hexavalent state. The decontamination solvent, dicarboxylic acid, is added directly, without the fluid contents of the system having to be replaced. This procedure is referred to as one cycle and can be applied several times, and may be applied to oxide films.