Photochemical deuterium separation: problems and prospects

Conference · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6440728

Marling, J B; Herman, I P

Photochemical separation of deuterium is examined to determine if either an ultraviolet or an infrared laser-based technology offers greater promise for development into an industrially viable heavy water production process. The three systems to be discussed are multiple-photon dissociation of organic molecules by pulsed CO/sub 2/ laser; CO or CO/sub 2/ laser-induced bimolecular reactions; and single-photon induced molecular dissociation by ultraviolet laser. Multiple-photon dissociation by CO/sub 2/ laser is attractive, since it utilizes an already developed high-power and efficient laser technology. Furthermore, single-step deuterium enrichment factors exceeding 1000-fold have been observed in the CF/sub 2/ = CFD photo-product from multiple-photon dissociation of dichlorotrifluoroethane, satisfying the high isotopic selectivity for economically viable photochemical deuterium separation. Its major drawback at present is the need to operate at low pressure. IR laser-induced bimolecular reactions may permit operation at higher pressure, and attractive processes include the methane + halogen and acetylene + hydrogen halide reaction systems. Single-photon induced ultraviolet dissociation using formaldehyde permits relatively high pressure operation, high single-step deuterium enrichment factors, and near-unity quantum yield. However, uv laser average power, efficiency, and lifetime, even based on the new XeCl or KrF excimer systems, still need substantial development to be used in an industrially viable process.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6440728
• Report Number(s): UCRL-81087; CONF-780958-4; TRN: 79-004724
• Resource Relation: Conference: 10. electro optics laser conference, Boston, MA, USA, 19 Sep 1978
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
DEUTERIUM
LASER ISOTOPE SEPARATION
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
HEAVY WATER
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PRODUCTION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
GAS LASERS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPES
LASERS
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABLE ISOTOPES
WATER
070101* - Heavy Water Production
400203 - Isotope Exchange & Isotope Separation- (-1987)