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

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Oak Ridge, TN
  2. Kingston, TN
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
863151
Patent Number(s):
US 4105746
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-26
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
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/

Citation Formats

Compton, Robert N, Reinhardt, Paul W, and Garrett, William R. Method and apparatus for providing negative ions of actinide-metal hexafluorides. United States: N. p., 1978. Web.
Compton, Robert N, Reinhardt, Paul W, & Garrett, William R. Method and apparatus for providing negative ions of actinide-metal hexafluorides. United States.
Compton, Robert N, Reinhardt, Paul W, and Garrett, William R. 1978. "Method and apparatus for providing negative ions of actinide-metal hexafluorides". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863151.
@article{osti_863151,
title = {Method and apparatus for providing negative ions of actinide-metal hexafluorides},
author = {Compton, Robert N and Reinhardt, Paul W and Garrett, William R},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/863151}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978}
}