ISOTOPE SEPARATION BY LOW-TEMPERATURE EXCHANGE. THE BF$sub 3$/center dot/ SO$sub 2$ SYSTEM FOR BORON-10 (1)

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960 · Sci. Papers Inst. Phys. Chem. Research (Tokyo)

OSTI ID:4098817

Nakane, R; Kurihara, O

It was found that an addition of boron trifluoride to sulfur dioxide affords a liquid molecular complex at -- 95 ts C, but scarcely any complex above --89 ts C, by measuring the singlestage separation factor for isotopic exchange between BF/sub 3/ gas and BF/sub 3/ in SO/sub 2/ solution at low temperature. Its value varied from 1.028 at--95 ts C to 1.006 at--78 ts C, with Bi/sup 0/ concentrating in the liquid phase. By utilizing this exchange reaction, a new gas-liquid countercurrent system was developed for the separation of boron isotopes. Ascending BF/sub 3/ gas passed countercurrent to descending BF/sub 3/ in the SO/sub 2/ solution in a glass column 50 cm long and 9 mm in diameter packed with 2 mm stainless steel Dixon's gauze rings. Reflux at one end was attained by heating and at the other end by cooling. Even at--78 ts C, B/sup 10/ was 1.78 fold enriched at bottom, and thus, it is evident that an associationdissociation method can be employed for the BF/sub 3/ - SO/sub 2/ system and that boron isotopes are effectively separated by this method, if the exchange is multiplied at --95 ts C. The major advantage of the BF/sub 3/ - SO/sub 2/ system for boron isotope separation is that a separation factor at --95 ts C, is fairly high being comparable to the BF/sub 3/- anisole system. An associationdissociation method can be employed; the corrosion of construction materials or the decomposition of the compounds is very small in comparison with an organic complex system such as BF/sub 3/- anisole system; and there is no need of the mechanical rotating apparatus except a freezer. (auth)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-15-009302
• OSTI ID: 4098817
• Journal Information: Sci. Papers Inst. Phys. Chem. Research (Tokyo), Journal Name: Sci. Papers Inst. Phys. Chem. Research (Tokyo) Vol. Vol: 54
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BORON 10
BORON FLUORIDES
COMPLEXES
COOLING
CORROSION
COUNTER CURRENT
DECOMPOSITION
ENRICHMENT
ETHERS
GASES
HEATING
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPIC EXCHANGE
LIQUIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION FACTOR
SOLUTIONS
SULFUR OXIDES