Apparatus for isotopic alteration of mercury vapor
AssigneeGTE Products Corporation
InventorsMark W. Grossman, William A. George, Rudolph V. Marcucci
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for enriching the isotopic Hg content of mercury is provided. The apparatus includes a reactor, a low pressure electric discharge lamp containing a fill including mercury and an inert gas. A filter is arranged concentrically around the lamp. In a preferred embodiment, constant mercury pressure is maintained in the filter by means of a water-cooled tube that depends from it, the tube having a drop of mercury disposed in it. The reactor is arranged around the filter, whereby radiation from said lamp passes through the filter and into said reactor. The lamp, the filter and the reactor are formed of a material which is transparent to ultraviolet light.
Claims9
An apparatus for enriching the isotopic content of mercury, said apparatus comprising:
- a low pressure electric discharge lamp, said lamp comprising an envelope transparent to ultraviolet radiation and containing a fill comprising mercury and an inert gas;
- a filter concentrically arranged around said low pressure electric discharge lamp, said filter being transparent to ultraviolet radiation and containing mercury including .sup.196 Hg isotope;
- means for controlling mercury pressure in said filter;
- and
- a reactor arranged around said filter such that radiation passes from said low pressure electric discharge lamp through said filter and into said reactor, said reactor being transparent to ultraviolet light.
A filter for photochemical isotope separation of .sup.196 Hg from mercury, said filter comprising:
- a pair of concentrically arranged cylindrical members formed of a material transparent to 253.7 nm. emissions;
- means for sealing the concentric cylinders from the atmosphere, and
- means for controlling mercury pressure in said filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.