Isotope separation by multiphoton dissociation of methylamine with an infrared laser
US4193855A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1978 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC01C3/02
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Methylamine (CH.sub.3 NH.sub.2) is dissociated into CH.sub.3 .multidot. and NH.sub.2 .multidot. radicals when irradiated with the output from an infrared laser. Ammonia (NH.sub.3) is then formed inherently through radical and molecular collisions. By tuning the laser to the appropriate frequency, the dissociation process is isotopically selective. As a consequence, ammonia, or other nitrogen containing compounds, are obtained which are selectively enriched in .sup.14 N or .sup.15 N. Carbon isotopes may be separated with essentially the same technique. .sup. PAC BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to enrichment and separation of isotopes, in particular .sup.14 N and .sup.15 N, and .sup.12 C and .sup.13 C by multiphoton dissociation of methylamine. 2. Description of the Prior Art The projected use of .sup.15 N in the nuclear industry is expected to reach 500,000 kg/year. Major use is in fuel pellets and cladding in uranium and plutonium nuclear reactors. Also, .sup.15 N and .sup.13 C are presently used as tracers in the fields of medicine and research. Low cost schemes for separating these isotopes are accordingly required. Ambartsumyan…
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