Process for production of isotopes

A process for producing an enriched mixture containing D2 and/or ND and liquid hydrogen stream depleted in D2 and/or HD, the process comprising:

• providing a cryogenic distillation column;
• feeding to the cryogenic distillation column a liquid hydrogen stream comprising predominantly para-H2 and at least one of D2 and HD;
• removing the liquid hydrogen stream depleted in D2 and/or HD from the cryogenic distillation column;
• and
• removing the enriched mixture enriched in D2 and/or HD from the cryogenic distillation column.

An apparatus for producing an isotopically enriched compound of a desired isotope, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a cryogenic reaction zone containing a catalyst adapted to catalyze an isotope exchange reaction at a cryogenic reaction temperature, the cryogenic reaction zone is adapted to produce a resulting mixture containing the isotopically enriched compound;
• (b) a source of an enriched mixture for feeding to the cryogenic reaction zone, the enriched mixture comprising at least a compound containing the desired isotope, wherein the enriched mixture is enriched in the desired isotope above a natural abundance of the desired isotope, the source being in communication with the cryogenic reaction zone;
• (c) a cryogenic distillation column for separating the resulting mixture into an enriched product enriched in the isotopically enriched compound and a depleted product depleted in the isotopically enriched compound, the cryogenic distillation column being in communication with the cryogenic reaction zone;
• and
• (d) a first outlet for removing the enriched product and a second outlet for removing the depleted product, the first outlet and the second outlet being in communication with the separating vessel.

An apparatus for producing an enriched mixture containing D2 and/or HD, the apparatus comprising:

• a cryogenic distillation column;
• a source of a liquid H2, wherein the liquid H2 comprises predominantly para-H2, the source being in communication with the cryogenic distillation column;
• and
• a first outlet for removing said liquid H2 depleted in D2 and/or HD and a second outlet for removing the enriched mixture enriched in D2 and/or HD, the first outlet and the second outlet being in communication with the cryogenic distillation column.

An apparatus for producing an isotopically enriched compound of a desired isotope, comprising:

• (a) a cryogenic reaction zone containing a catalyst adapted to catalyze an isotope exchange reaction at a cryogenic reaction temperature;
• (b) means for feeding to the cryogenic reaction zone an enriched mixture comprising at least a compound containing the desired isotope, wherein the enriched mixture is enriched in the desired isotope above a natural abundance of the desired isotope;
• (c) means for reacting the enriched mixture in the cryogenic reaction zone thereby forming a resulting mixture containing the isotopically enriched compound;
• and
• (d) a cryogenic distillation column for separating the resulting mixture into an enriched product which is enriched in the isotopically enriched compound and a depleted product which is depleted in the isotopically enriched compound.

An apparatus for producing an enriched mixture containing D2 and/or HD comprising:

• a cryogenic distillation column;
• means for feeding to the cryogenic distillation column a liquid hydrogen stream comprising predominantly para-H2 and at least one of D2 and HD;
• means for removing said liquid H2 depleted in D2 and/or HD from the cryogenic distillation column;
• and
• means for removing the enriched mixture enriched in D2 and/or HD from the cryogenic distillation column.

A process for producing an enriched mixture containing D2 and/or HD and a liquid hydrogen stream depleted in essentially all D2 and/or HD, the process comprising:

• providing a cryogenic distillation column;
• feeding to the cryogenic distillation column a liquid hydrogen stream comprising predominantly para-H2 and at least one of D2 and HD;
• removing the liquid hydrogen stream depleted in essentially all the D2 and/or HD originally present in the feed;
• and
• removing the enriched mixture enriched in D2 and/or HD from the cryogenic distillation column.

A process for producing an isotopically enriched compound of a desired isotope, comprising:

• (a) providing a cryogenic reaction zone containing a catalyst adapted to catalyze an isotope exchange reaction at a cryogenic reaction temperature;
• (b) feeding to the cryogenic reaction zone an enriched mixture comprising at least a compound containing the desired isotope, wherein the enriched mixture is enriched in the desired isotope above a natural abundance of the desired isotope;
• (c) reacting the enriched mixture in the cryogenic reaction zone thereby forming a resulting mixture containing the isotopically enriched compound;
• and
• (d) providing a cryogenic distillation column to separate the resulting mixture into an enriched product which is enriched in the isotopically enriched compound and a depleted product which is depleted in the isotopically enriched compound in the at least one cryogenic distillation column.