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SOME EXPERIMENTS ON THE SEPARATION OF LITHIUM ISOTOPES BY MOLECULAR DISTILLATION

Journal Article · · Chapter 27 of Proc. Symposium on Isotope Separation, Amsterdam
OSTI ID:4331149
Molecular, or short-path high-vacuum distillation, has been recognized for some time as a promising means for separation of the isotopes of liquid metals, particularly in view of the simplicity of equipment and the relatively high separation factor attainable. The method has been used to separate the isotopes of mercury; Brewer and Madorsky used multistage stills, and earlier workers used single stage stills. The work reported here covers a series of experiments carried out in the laboratories of the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant to determine the usefulness of the method for the separation of the isotopes of lithium. The experiments covered the period from 1952 through 1954 and included: (1) exploratory experiments to determine the single stage separation factor, to study Ihe condenser drainage problem, and to determine suitable construction materials for a still; (2) the operation of a small circular still with spiral staging; (3) the operation of two different versions of a larger horizontal eight-stage still; and finally, (4) the successful operation of a six-stage still with horizontal evaporating and condensing surfaces. Operation over ihe temperatare range from 535 d C to 627 d C showed stage separation factors of 1.052 to 1.064. (auth)
Research Organization:
Union Carbide Nuclear Co., Oak Ridge, Tenn.
NSA Number:
NSA-12-014105
OSTI ID:
4331149
Journal Information:
Chapter 27 of Proc. Symposium on Isotope Separation, Amsterdam, Journal Name: Chapter 27 of Proc. Symposium on Isotope Separation, Amsterdam
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

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