Patent · US Expired

Isotopic separation

US4297191A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
11References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 30, 1979
Grant dateOct 27, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 30, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D59/50
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Method and apparatus for separating isotopes in an isotopic mixture. Photo-excitation of selected isotopic species is utilized in conjunction with various processes including reaction of the excited species with positive ions of predetermined ionization energy, other excited species or free electrons. The products of the reactions include forms of the selected isotopic species which are different than their form prior to excitation, including different mass, charge or chemical make-up. The selected species is then separated from the balance of the reaction products. Ions and electrons are produced by an electrical discharge, and separation is achieved through radial ambipolar diffusion, electrostatic or magnetohydrodynamic techniques.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.