Method and apparatus for isotope separation
US4786478A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 1986 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01J2219/0852
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Method and apparatus for isotope separation using the combination of selective pre-excitation by light radiation with further collisional processing in a DC, rf or microwave gas discharge field to recover ionized atoms or dissociated molecules of the selected isotope. Thus, uranium atoms or molecules in gas phase are irradiated in an interaction volume with light radiation of selected wavelength to raise energy states to a relatively stable second or mid-level. At the same time a gas discharge within said interaction volume subjects raised energy atoms or molecules to a collisional process tending to raise a significant number through the energy ladder to the respective ionization continuum or dissociation light whereupon the charged atoms or molecules may be collected as an enriched bulk of selected isotopic species.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.