Method and apparatus for enrichment of heavy oxygen isotopes
US7922875B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 12, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S423/07
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of enriching a heavy oxygen isotope by distillation of the present invention includes: a first distillation step of feeding oxygen and ozone generated by an ozonizer 12 into a distillation column 13 filled with a diluent gas, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas; a photodecomposition step of introducing a mixed gas of the ozone and the diluent gas from a bottom of the distillation column into a photoreaction cell 14, and irradiating the mixed gas with a laser light to selectively decompose the ozone containing the heavy oxygen isotope; and a second distillation step of returning non-decomposed ozone and oxygen containing the heavy oxygen isotope to the distillation column, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.