Method of preparing mercury with an arbitrary isotopic distribution

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

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 (United States)
• 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

Related Subjects

method
preparing
mercury
arbitrary
isotopic
distribution
provides
process
predetermined
embodiment
types
hg
corresponding
desired
placed
electrolyte
solution
hcl
resulting
mercurous
electrolytically
plated
cathode
wire
producing
containing
similar
fashion
obtained
hgo
dissolved
electrolytic
glacial
acetic
acid
specific
recovered
cathode wire
isotopic distribution
electrolytic solution
acetic acid
electrolyte solution
glacial acetic
mercury containing
preparing mercury
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