Method and apparatus for providing negative ions of actinide-metal hexafluorides

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:863151

Compton, Robert N ^[1]; Reinhardt, Paul W ^[2]; Garrett, William R ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN
2. Kingston, TN

This invention relates to a novel method and a novel generator, or source, for providing gaseous negative ions of selected metal hexafluorides. The method is summarized as follows: in an evacuated zone, reacting gaseous fluorine with an actinide-metal body selected from the group consisting of uranium, plutonium, neptunium, and americium to convert at least part of the metal to the hexafluoride state, thus producing gaseous negatively charged metal-hexafluoride ions in the evacuated zone, and applying an electric field to the zone to remove the ions therefrom. The ion source comprises a chamber defining a reaction zone; means for evacuating the zone; an actinide-metal body in the zone, the metal being uranium, plutonium, neptunium, or americium; means for contacting the body with gaseous fluorine to convert at least a part thereof to the hexafluoride state; and means for applying an electric field to the evacuated zone to extract gaseous, negatively charged metal-hexafluoride ions therefrom. The invention provides unique advantages over conventional surface-ionization techniques for producing such ions.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4105746
• OSTI ID: 863151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
providing
negative
actinide-metal
hexafluorides
relates
novel
generator
source
gaseous
selected
metal
summarized
follows
evacuated
zone
reacting
fluorine
consisting
uranium
plutonium
neptunium
americium
convert
hexafluoride
producing
negatively
charged
metal-hexafluoride
applying
electric
field
remove
therefrom
comprises
chamber
defining
reaction
means
evacuating
contacting
extract
provides
unique
advantages
conventional
surface-ionization
techniques
selected metal
negatively charged
electric field
reaction zone
novel method
source comprises
gaseous fluorine
producing gaseous
reacting gaseous
metal hexafluorides
/423/204/250/422/