Practical enrichment technique for /sup 33/S (/sup 34/S)

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5318720

McInteer, B B; Lyman, J L; Nilsson, A C; Quigley, G P

The successful preparation of a macroscopic sample of enriched /sup 33/S by laser-induced molecular dissociation is reported. Approach was to induce isotopically selective dissociation of SF/sub 6/ with CO/sub 2/-laser pulses and to separate the remaining SF/sup 6/ from the sulfur-containing reaction products by cryogenic distillation. A 200 Hz, 0.75 J/pulse laser was used for photolysis of low-pressure (less than 1 torr) gas mixtures. The mixture of SF/sub 6/ and scavenger recirculated continuously throughout the irradiation chamber where the laser pulses selectively dissociated /sup 32/SF/sub 6/ to give the final products: SF/sub 4/ or SOF/sub 2/. The unreacted SF/sub 6/ was enriched in the heavier isotopes: /sup 33/S, /sup 34/S, and /sup 36/S. A 1.3-g sample of SF/sub 6/ was collected with a /sup 33/S enrichment factor of 1.96 and a /sup 34/S enrichment factor of 2.25. A similar size sample of depleted (/sup 32/S) sulfur compounds was also collected. A scavenger was necessary to ensure high yield, and moist hydrogen was found to be best for our conditions. Removal of hydrogen fluoride was also necessary to prevent severe corrosion and to maintain high isotopic selectivity. 6 figures.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5318720
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-82-1535; CONF-820666-1; ON: DE82018377
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400203* -- Isotope Exchange & Isotope Separation-- (-1987)
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPES
LASER ISOTOPE SEPARATION
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABLE ISOTOPES
SULFUR 33
SULFUR 34
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR FLUORIDES
SULFUR ISOTOPES