Molecular separation method and apparatus
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating a gaseous mixture of chemically identical but physically different molecules based on their polarities. The gaseous mixture of molecules is introduced in discrete quantities into the proximal end of a porous glass molecular sieve. The molecular sieve is exposed to microwaves to excite the molecules to a higher energy state from a lower energy state, those having a higher dipole moment being excited more than those with a lower energy state. The temperature of the sieve kept cold by a flow of liquid nitrogen through a cooling jacket so that the heat generated by the molecules colliding with the material is transferred away from the material. The molecules thus alternate between a higher energy state and a lower one, with the portion of molecules having the higher dipole moment favored over the others. The former portion can then be extracted separately from the distal end of the molecular sieve. 2 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 215244
- Patent Number(s):
- 5505829
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-002,352
- Assignee:
- PTO; SCA: 070100; PA: INS-96:009839; EDB-96:070885; SN: 96001569527
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 9 Apr 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCE TECHNOLOGY; GASES; ISOTOPE SEPARATION; SEPARATION EQUIPMENT; DESIGN; MOLECULAR SIEVES; MICROWAVE RADIATION; EXCITED STATES; DIPOLE MOMENTS; OPERATION
Citation Formats
Villa-Aleman, E. Molecular separation method and apparatus. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Villa-Aleman, E. Molecular separation method and apparatus. United States.
Villa-Aleman, E. Tue .
"Molecular separation method and apparatus". United States.
@article{osti_215244,
title = {Molecular separation method and apparatus},
author = {Villa-Aleman, E},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating a gaseous mixture of chemically identical but physically different molecules based on their polarities. The gaseous mixture of molecules is introduced in discrete quantities into the proximal end of a porous glass molecular sieve. The molecular sieve is exposed to microwaves to excite the molecules to a higher energy state from a lower energy state, those having a higher dipole moment being excited more than those with a lower energy state. The temperature of the sieve kept cold by a flow of liquid nitrogen through a cooling jacket so that the heat generated by the molecules colliding with the material is transferred away from the material. The molecules thus alternate between a higher energy state and a lower one, with the portion of molecules having the higher dipole moment favored over the others. The former portion can then be extracted separately from the distal end of the molecular sieve. 2 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1996},
month = {4}
}