IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF ISOTOPE CONCENTRATION

Patent · Wed Jun 07 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4088517

A process for preparing heavy water is described. The water is enriched in deuterium by exchange of deuterium between water and hydrogen sulfide in different phases of a cascade system of interconnected stages. The stages consist of two exchange columns at different temperatures which flow countercurrently and intermingle so that the water is enriched in one column and impoverished in the other. The process is characterized in that a proportion of the hydrogen sulfide flowing through each stage except the last is withdrawn between the columns and passed to the impoverishing column of the next succeeding stage; the hydrogen sulfide flowing from the enriching column of each stage except the first is returned to the enriching column of the next preceding stage and the hydrogen sulfide from the enriching column of the first stage is recycled to the impoverishing column of that stage. A modification is also described in which a portion of the hydrogen sulfide is flowed through each stage except the last two stages. In these stages the H/sub 2/S is withdrawn between the columns and is passed to the impoverishing column of the next. The hydrogen sulfide flowing from the enriching column of each stage except the first two stages is returned to the enriching column of the next. The hydrogen sulfide from the enriching columns of the first two stages is recycled to the impoverishing columns of these stages. (N.W.R.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-15-021050
• OSTI ID: 4088517
• Report Number(s): GB 870036
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

COUNTER CURRENT
DEUTERIUM
ENRICHMENT
HEAVY WATER
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPIC EXCHANGE
PREPARATION
WATER