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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Axi-symmetrical flow reactor for .sup.196 Hg photochemical enrichment

Patent ·
OSTI ID:867796

The present invention is directed to an improved photochemical reactor useful for the isotopic enrichment of a predetermined isotope of mercury, especially, .sup.196 Hg. Specifically, two axi-symmetrical flow reactors were constructed according to the teachings of the present invention. These reactors improve the mixing of the reactants during the photochemical enrichment process, affording higher yields of the desired .sup.196 Hg product. Measurements of the variation of yield (Y) and enrichment factor (E) along the flow axis of these reactors indicates very substantial improvement in process uniformity compared to previously used photochemical reactor systems. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the photoreactor system was built such that the reactor chamber was removable from the system without disturbing the location of either the photochemical lamp or the filter employed therewith.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
Assignee:
GTE Products Corporation (Danvers, MA)
Patent Number(s):
US 5012106
OSTI ID:
867796
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English