Gas separation with rotating plasma arc reactor

A high temperature method of separating a gas component from a gaseous mixture in an arc plasma reactor which is surrounded by a magnetic field winding in a one stage separation, comprising:

• energizing said magnetic field winding by a variable regulated dc supply to obtain magnetic induction of between about 0.0030 T to about 0.0265 T;
• producing an electrical arc discharge of at least about 600 A at about 22 V between a positively charged centrally disposed electrode ball that is movable upwardly or downwardly in a surrounding negatively charged electrode;
• introducing a plasma working gas comprising a mixture of a heavy and light gas in spaces between said electrodes at about atmospheric pressure and a central plasma temperature of about 10,000.degree. K to produce gas rotation electromagnetically at a rotation rate of at least 60,000 rpm to force said heavy gas to a peripheral area of said reactor and accumulate said light gas in a centerline area of said reactor;
• and
• using means to remove the heavy gas from said peripheral area of said reactor and means to remove the light gas from said centerline area of said reactor.