Isotope separation process
A process for separating [sup 235]U from a mix of [sup 238]UF[sub 6] and [sup 235]UF[sub 6], to obtain a chemical compound in which the ratio of [sup 235]U to [sup 238]U is higher than in the mix, the process comprising the steps of: combining the mix of [sup 238]UF[sub 6] and [sup 235]UF[sub 6] with at least one type of reactant molecules which is selected from a group consisting of: GeCl[sub 4], GeH[sub 4], SiBr[sub 4], SiCl[sub 4], SiH[sub 4], SiOH[sub 3]F[sub 3], and SiOH[sub 6], to form a mixture thereof; exposing the mixture to electromagnetic energy of at least one predetermined wavelength which is absorbed more strongly by [sup 235]UF[sub 6] than by [sup 238]UF[sub 6], in the presence of at least one type of polar molecule to cause the [sup 235]UF[sub 6] to go from a first physicochemical state to a second physicochemical state where the [sup 235]UF[sub 6], without significantly consuming the polar molecule, combines with the reactant molecules at a higher rate than does [sup 238]UF[sub 6] to form the chemical compound; and separating the chemical compound from the mixture.
- Assignee:
- Cameco Corp., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5221446; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-760435
- OSTI ID:
- 6227391
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISO
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC ISOTOPE SEPARATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MIXTURES
MOLECULES
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 238
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES