GB838361A - Improvements in or relating to use of nuclear fission in synthesizing organic compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

Organic compounds are produced by a process wherein fissionable material is intimately contacted with molecules of at least one organic compound and said material is caused to fission, as claimed in the parent Specification, wherein said organic compound is in the vapour state. The fissionable material may be in the form of a thin film, fibre or powder, having at least one dimension not greater than 15m . The reactants may be diluted by means of a diluent such as water which breaks down to form hydrogen, oxygen and hydroxyl radicals; or of hydrogen which breaks down into atoms; or of a rare gas such as helium or argon which releases electrons by collision with a fission fragment; these radicals or electrons promote the desired reactions. Chain transfer agents such as CCl4, CHCl3, HCl and HBr also may be added in small amount. In Example 1, a film of a uranium-containing substance is deposited on the inside of an aluminium tube, and methanol placed in the cylinder, which is then cooled and evacuated to remove air. The tube is then sealed, wrapped in resistance wire, insulated, placed in an outer aluminium container and the assembly placed in a nuclear reactor which supplies a neutron flux of 7X1016 neutrons sq. cm. for 17 hours, the tube being maintained at 150 DEG C. by the resistance wire. The products contain ethylene glycol (main product), carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and hydrogen. In otherwise similar examples, small proportions of carbon tetrachloride and helium respectively are sealed with the methanol in the tube; the products are similar.ALSO:Organic compounds are produced by a process wherein fissionable material is intimately contacted with molecules of at least one organic compound and said material is caused to fission, as claimed in the parent Specification, wherein said organic compound is in the vapour state. In Example 1, a film of a uranium-containing substance is deposited on the inside of an aluminium tube, and methanol placed in the cylinder, which is then cooled and evacuated to remove air. The tube is then sealed, wrapped in resistance wire, insulated, placed in an outer aluminium container and the assembly placed in a nuclear reactor which supplies a neutron flux of 7 X 1016 neutrons/sq. cm. for 17 hours, the tube being maintained at 150 DEG C. by the resistance wire. The products contain ethylene glycol (main product), carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and hydrogen. In otherwise similar examples, small proportions of carbon tetrachloride and helium respectively are sealed with the methanol in the tube; the products are similar. The fissionable material may be in the form of a thin film, fibre or powder, having at least one dimension not greater than 15 m . The reactants may be diluted by means of a diluent such as water which breaks down to form hydrogen, oxygen and hydroxyl radicals; or of hydrogen which breaks down into atoms; or of a rare gas such as helium or argon which releases electrons by collision with a fission fragment: these radicals or electrons promote the desired reactions. Chain transfer agents such as CCl4, CHCl3, HCl and HBr also may be added in small amount.