US 5,183,542 A · Apparatus and method for separating zirconium isotopes using balanced ion electromigration

Abstract

Both a method and apparatus for separating zirconium isotopes by balanced ion migration in a counterflowing electrolyte are disclosed herein. In the method of the invention, zirconium chloride is dissolved in a solution of HCl, and a voltage of between 2 and 50 volts is applied across the electrolyte to create a flow of zirconium ions toward the cathode, and a counterflow of chlorine ions toward the anode which is balanced such that the lighter weight isotopes of zirconium migrate toward the cathode while the heavier weight zirconium isotopes stay in the vicinity of the anode. The apparatus of the invention includes a polarizing assembly formed from a bundle of small diameter glass tubes aligned between the anode and the cathode. The internal shape of the tubes impedes kinetic agitation movement of the zirconium ions in all directions except in the direction between the anode and the cathode, thereby expediting the separation process. Glass frits are used to partition off the electrolyte in the region of both the anode and the cathode so that the isotopes which eventually accumulate in these regions may be drawn off with a minimum of fluid agitation.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for separating zirconium isotopes by balanced ion migration in a counterflowing electrolyte solution, comprising the steps of:

introducing ions of different isotopes of zirconium into an electrolyte solution that includes non-zirconium ions, and
applying a voltage across said electrolyte solution with an anode and a cathode of between about 2 and 50 volts to create a flow of zirconium ions toward said cathode, and to create a counterflow of said non-zirconium ions toward said anode that reduces the net transport of zirconium ions across said anode and cathode to zero,
thereby causing the lighter weight isotopes of zirconium to migrate through said electrolyte solution toward the cathode while the heavier weight zirconium isotopes migrate through said electrolyte solution toward the anode.

A method for separating zirconium isotopes by balanced ion migration in a counterflowing electrolyte, comprising the steps of:

dissolving a zirconium compound into an electrolyte characterized by a selected pH that includes non-zirconium ions to introduce ions of different isotopes of zirconium into said electrolyte;
applying a voltage across said electrolyte with an anode and a cathode of between about 2 and 25 volts to attract a flow of zirconium ions toward said cathode, and to create a counterflow of said non-zirconium ions toward said anode that is sufficient to impede the migration of the heavier isotopes of zirconium toward the cathode but not sufficient to impede the flow of lighter isotopes of zirconium toward the cathode, whereby the net transport of said zirconium ions across said anode and cathode is zero, and
maintaining the selected pH of said electrolyte during the counterflow of non-zirconium ions in said electrolyte so that the electrical resistance of said electrolyte and hence the electrical current induced by said voltage remains substantially constant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for separating zirconium isotopes using balanced ion electromigration

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for separating zirconium isotopes using balanced ion electromigration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18