IL47293A - Process for the separation of isotope mixtures - Google Patents

Abstract

1507528 Separation of uranium isotopes KRAFTWERK UNION AG 16 May 1975 [17 May 1974] 21020/75 Addition to 1496125 Heading C1A [Also in Division Bl] A mixture of 235 UF 6 and 238 UF 6 is separated into its isotopic components by selectively energizing one of the isotopic components by absorption of electromagnetic radiation from a laser beam and bringing it into contact with an energized reagent by the process of the parent Specification, but where the laser beam has a wavelength of 5À315, 5À304 or 5À308 microns when 235 UF 6 is the energized component and of 5À389 or 5À400 microns when 238 UF 6 is the energized component. [GB1507528A]

Description

Process the separation of iaotope mixture 44943 This invention relates to a process for the separation of in particular isotope employing laser beams to make possible the controlled chemical reaction of a component of the mixture with a chemical In our copending patent application we have described and claimed a process for the separation of one component from a in which said one component is of ively energised by absorption of bandwidth and is brougnt into contact with an energised the sum total of energy supplied to said one and to said reagent being to enable chemical reaction between tne energised species to take but tne energy supplied to said one component and to said reagent individually being insufficient to enable reaction to take place unless species are In this part of tne necessary enable chemical reaction to occur is supplied to the one component of the and the remainder of the energy is provided by the In practical work with this the arose of how to apply a to produce laser beams of particularly This led to tne inciing isotope mixture of 235 g and 238 there be energisation of 235 Ur laser of wavelengths and also for energisation 238 laser lines of lengtn and More particularl one present provides a process the separation of a mixture ot 235 d 238 into its isotopic in which one of the isotopic is selectively energised by from a laser beam and is brought into contact with an energised the sum total of energy supplied to said one component and to said one component said reagent being sufficient to enable chemical reaction between the enegised species to take but the species energy supplied to said one component and to said reagent individually being insufficient to enable reaction to occur both species are wnerein the laser beam has a wavelength or microns when 235 is the component to be energised and of or microns when 238 is the component to be there takes place energisation solely of 235 or solely of 238 as in the parent patent botn be employed for isotope separation or for ichment of one of tne The by laser beam may be adjustable CO laser the CO of which may be isotopically pure or may consist of a predetermined mixture of The reagent may be one of and The invention also provides a gas laser in the active material is isotopically A further aspect of the invention provides a gas laser in which the active material consists of a mixture of isotopes of predetermined composition and differing from that resulting from the natural abundance of the isotopes of the s the Another aspect of the invention provides a process for the separation or enrichment of one isotopic component from a mixture of two or more isotopic components of the same in wnicn said one component by laser or radiation obtained from a gas laser the active gas of which consists of a predetermined or isotopic mixture of predetermined differing from tne natural isotopic distribucion Our investigations performed as starting material for isotopic separation have that trie individual rotation lines overlap to a considerable extentr and result in a wide absorption this selective absorption or a laser line is possible only the absorption band descends steeply on at least one side of the peak ana 238 and the two bands the isotope compounds 235 are shifted relative to eacn otfier by a large amount in consequence of isotope Tnis or displacement is show in the drawiny whicn shows the absorption of the CO laser lines 23 b and 238 UFC Plo ted on the b abscissa is the wavelengtn and on ordinate the extinction wnich is constant a given substance for a given substance and at constant is a function practically speaking only of wavelength of the glance at tne Figure snows that the extinction coerficxent has different values for the two uranium related to a laser line This means that the two uranium isotopes arc energised or excited to different extents by absorption of the incident radiation of a given In this it would be ideal if one of the uranium isotopes were not to be energised at but then the number ot chemical reactions achieved on the molecular and nence the separation would be extremely This would be the case for example for wavelengths below microns The ratio of the two extinction coefficients for the uranium isotopes may be considered to be the governing factor for such an isotope separation stage according to the From the aspect of optimum and also of an optimum separation it has now been found that for energisation of 235 laser lines of wavelengths microns and especially Lines havin a wavelength smaller than microns possess a higher separation factor but display a lower degree of above microns the absorption is highe but the separation effect is In Table I hereinbelow there is shown a suitable laser line wavelengths with their associated extinction coefficients for the two uranium isotopes and also the associated separation The sign is used to designate those separation factors which relate to 235 U while is used to indicate the values for 238 U TABLE I Wavelengths Separation measured factor Torr Torr 10 0 15 In this the laser lines are a function of the isotopic composition of the CO their position can be influenced 20 and justed due to appropriate selection of the said isotope Table II below snows the laser lines located in the zones giving their wavelengths in as a function of the combination of the and 25 oxygen TABLE II xsotope combination 12c 13c 13c 5 In the case of other substance or xsotope mixtures be separated a similar dependent absorption profile tne probably For desired process in such practically tne same apply as s here witn reference to uF o insufficientOCRQuality

Claims (7)

1. A process for the separation of a mixture of 235 Ur ^ and 238 UFg into its isotopi«¾ components, in wnich one of the isotopic components ot is selectively energised by absorption / light from a laser beam and is brought into contact with an energised reagent, the sum total of energy supplied to said one component and to said reagent beiny sufficient to enable chemical reaction between the energised species to take place, but the energy supplied to said one component and to said reagent individually being insufficient to enable reaction to occur unless both species are energised, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of 5.315, 5.304 or 5.308 microns when 235 Utg is the component to be energised and of 5.389 or 5.400 microns nen 238 UFC is the 6 component to be energised.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam is obtained from an adjustable CO laser.

3. A process according to claim 2, wherein the isotopic composition of the CO in the laser is predetermined in order to produce ' radiation of the desired wavelength.

4. A process according to claim 2 or 3, wnerein the CO consists of one of the isotopes identified hereinbefore in Table II. 47293/2

5. A process according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the CO consists of a mixture of the isotopes identified hereinbefore in Table II, the mixture having a predetermined isotopic composition differing from that resulting rrom the natural abundance of the isotopes of carbon and oxygen.

6. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the reagent is one of SF4, Si l4, HC1 and S02.

7. A process for the separation or enrichment of 235 Ut"6 or 238 Ut'6 from or in a mixture thereof, substantially as hereinbefore descdbed.