Method of isotope separation by chemi-ionization
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorsSol Wexler, Charles E. Young
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for separating specific isotopes present in an isotopic mixture by aerodynamically accelerating a gaseous compound to form a jet of molecules, and passing the jet through a stream of electron donor atoms whereby an electron transfer takes place, thus forming negative ions of the molecules. The molecular ions are then passed through a radiofrequency quadrupole mass filter to separate the specific isotopes. This method may be used for any compounds having a sufficiently high electron affinity to permit negative ion formation, and is especially useful for the separation of plutonium and uranium isotopes.
Claims10
A method for separating a specific isotope from a mixture of isotopes of an actinide element present as MF.sub.6, wherein M is the actinide element, comprising:
- a. preparing a feed gas mixture of about 1 to about 10 mole percent MF.sub.6 in a propellant gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and helium;
- b. passing the feed gas mixture under pressure through an expansion nozzle while heating the mixture to about 600.degree. C.;
- c. releasing the heated gas mixture from the nozzle into an exhaust chamber having a reduced pressure, whereby a gas jet of MF.sub.6 molecules, MF.sub.6 molecular clusters and propellant gas molecules is formed, said MF.sub.6 molecules having a translational energy of about 3 ev;.sup.6
- d. converting the MF.sub.6 molecules to MF.sub.6 ions by passing the jet through a cross jet of electron donor atoms so that an electron transfer takes place between the MF.sub.6 molecules and the electron donor atoms whereby the jet is now quasi-neutral, containing negative MF.sub.6 .sup.-ions and positive donor ions;
- e. passing the quasi-neutral jet through a radiofrequency mass filter tuned to separate the MF.sub.6.sup.- ions containing the specific isotope from the MF.sub.6.sup.- ions of the other isotopes present in the mixture;
- and
- f. neutralizing and collecting the MF.sub.6 molecules of the specific isotope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.