Patent · US Expired

Method for enrichment of heavy component of oxygen isotopes

US6461583B1 · kind B1 · utility

18Cited by
3References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 10, 2000
Grant dateOct 8, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S423/07
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enrichment of heavy oxygen isotopes is provided wherein an oxygen starting material which contains heavy oxygen isotopes is enriched in at least one of oxygen molecule 16O17O, 16O18O, 17O17O, 17O18O and 18O18O, by means of cryogenic distillation of the oxygen starting material containing heavy oxygen isotopes. In addition, a method and apparatus are provided for further increasing the concentration of at least one of the heavy isotope oxygen molecules by means of conducting isotope scrambling on the above-mentioned plurality of oxygen molecules enriched by means of the above mentioned cryogenic distillation.

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