Method of preparing mercury with an arbitrary isotopic distribution

Patent · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:866080

Grossman, Mark W ^[1]; George, William A ^[2]

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1. Belmont, MA
2. Rockport, MA

This invention provides for a process for preparing mercury with a predetermined, arbitrary, isotopic distribution. In one embodiment, different isotopic types of Hg.sub.2 Cl.sub.2, corresponding to the predetermined isotopic distribution of Hg desired, are placed in an electrolyte solution of HCl and H.sub.2 O. The resulting mercurous ions are then electrolytically plated onto a cathode wire producing mercury containing the predetermined isotopic distribution. In a similar fashion, Hg with a predetermined isotopic distribution is obtained from different isotopic types of HgO. In this embodiment, the HgO is dissolved in an electrolytic solution of glacial acetic acid and H.sub.2 O. The isotopic specific Hg is then electrolytically plated onto a cathode and then recovered.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• Assignee: GTE Products Corporation (Danvers, MA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4629543
• OSTI ID: 866080
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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