AEC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY REPORT FOR APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE 1957
Phase I is concerned with the separation of boron isotopes 10 and 11. The presently used method of separation of boron isotopes is that of an association-dissociation reaction employing the dimethyl ether-boron trifluoride complex. In that the BF/sub 3/ containing B/sup 10/ associates with dimethyl ether at a slightly greater rate than BF/sub 3/ containing the B/sup 11/ isotope, the liquid phase becomes enriched in B/sup 10/ and the vapor phase becomes enriched in B/sup 11/. The reaction is carried out in extremely effective continuous fractionation columns, the B/sup 10/ enriched complex being recovered from the bottoms. A second method for the separation of boron isotopes is in the development stage. This method involves an association-dissociation process using an anisole-boron trifluoride complex. The method is dependent on an exchange between BF/sub 3/ gas and anisoleboron trifiuoride liquid complex. The desired boron-10 isotope is concentrated in the liquid phase. The boron isotope separation factor is greater for the anisole-BF/sub 3/ complex system than for the dimethyl ether-BF/sub 3/ system. Increased production of B/sup 10/ or new construction would be expected to profit from the successful development of the anisole-BF/sub 3/ system. Phase II is concerned with the reduction of boron compounds (product of Phase I) to the elemental form. Although hydrogen reduction of boron trichloride using a hot wire was used in plant operations, fused salt electrolysis is used at present. The process involves the electrolysis of potassium fluoroborate in a potassium chloride melt. Research work is primarily directed at increasing the recovery of boron. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Hooker Electrochemical Co., Niagara Falls, N.Y.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-001288
- OSTI ID:
- 4328758
- Report Number(s):
- HEC-79
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BORON 11
BORON COMPLEXES
BORON COMPOUNDS
BORON FLUORIDES
BORON ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ELECTROLYSIS
ENRICHMENT
ETHERS
FUSED SALTS
HYDROGEN
LIQUIDS
METHYL RADICALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENYL RADICALS
POTASSIUM CHLORIDES
POTASSIUM FLUORIDES
REACTION KINETICS
REDUCTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
VAPORS
WIRES