Krypton-85 enrichment by advanced thermal diffusion

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5896247

Schwind, R A; Avona, V L; Roos, W J

The feasibility of enriching /sup 85/Kr to 90% by advanced gas-phase thermal diffusion was assessed. The assessment consisted of: (1) fabrication and operation of two thermal diffusion columns of new designs, and construction and operation of a thermosiphon gas circulation system; (2) preparation of two conceptual design studies, one for fabrication of a /sup 85/Kr enrichment system capable of producing 10,000 Ci/yr of 90% /sup 85/Kr with the system located in an existing building at Mound, and the second for a system of the same capacity, but with the system located in a newly constructed building; and (3) a market survey to determine the likely extent of demand for such material. The experimental results with the new columns were highly satisfactory, and it is now known with certainty that columns of these designs can be used in a production system. Two conceptual design studies were performed to evaluate the possibility of fabricating the separation facility with alternative types of funding, and the impact of each option on possibilities for future expansion of production capacity. The market survey that was conducted provided information that led to the following conclusions: (1) Demand reflected in response to the survey was not extremely large; however, there are several large applications that appear to have real potential in the future. (2) Lack of an assured supply of /sup 85/Kr at sufficiently high enrichments and/or predictable prices appears to be having a serious negative impact on development of uses for such material. Availability of adequate quantities of unenriched (approx.5%) /sup 85/Kr is likely to be a serious problem, at least in the near term (i.e., within the next 5 yr). This potential problem merits immediate close attention. (3) A definitive survey cannot be completed on a one-shot basis.

• Research Organization: Monsanto Research Corp., Miamisburg, OH (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0053
• OSTI ID: 5896247
• Report Number(s): MLM-MU-79-66-0004
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400203* -- Isotope Exchange & Isotope Separation-- (-1987)
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DIFFUSION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS
ISOTOPES
KRYPTON 85
KRYPTON ISOTOPES
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THERMAL DIFFUSION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES