← Back to Patent Explorer
US3923619A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

O{HU 18 {B Enrichment process in UO{HD 2{B F{HD 2 {B utilizing laser light

Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1974-09-16
•
Granted: 1975-12-02
•
Expires: 1994-09-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Photochemical reaction induced by laser light is employed to separate oxygen isotopes. A solution containing UO2F2, HF, H2O and a large excess of CH3OH is irradiated with laser light of appropriate wavelength to differentially excite the UO22 ions containing O16 atoms and cause a reaction to proceed in accordance with the reaction 2 UO2F2 + CH3OH + 4 HF -> 2 UF4 + HCOOH + 3 H2O. Irradiation is discontinued when about 10% of the UO2F2 has reacted, the UF4 is filtered from the reaction mixture and the residual CH3OH and HF plus the product HCOOH and H2O are distilled away from the UO2F2 which is thereby enriched in the O18 isotope, or the solution containing the UO2F2 may be photochemically processed again to provide further enrichment in the O18 isotope.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gerald L Depoorter
  • 👤 Cheryl K Rofer-Depoorter

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 19:26
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/121; B01D; B01D59/00; B01D59/34

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 93 words
A METHOD OF SEPARATING OXYGEN-16 FROM OXYGEN-18 COMPRISING IRRADATING A SOLUTIN CONTAINING UO2F2, HF, H2O AND A LARGE EXCESS OF METHANOL WITH LASER LIGHT HAVING A WAVELENGTH WITHIN A LIMITED RANGE SELECTED FROM WITHIN THE GENRAL RANGE OF 22,250 CM-1 TO 27,600 CM-1, WHEREBY THE REACTION 2 UO2F2 + CH3OH + 4HF $ 2UF4 + HCOOH + 3 H2O PROCEEDS PREFERNTIALLY WITH UO2F2 CONTAINING THE OXYGEN 16 ISOTOPE, UNTIL ABOUT 10% OF THE UO2F2 HAS REACTED, FILTERING PRODUCT UF4 FROM THE SOLUTION AND RECOVERING UO2F2 ENRICHED IN THE OXYGEN-18 ISOTOPE FROM THE SOLUTION.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 93 words
A METHOD OF SEPARATING OXYGEN-16 FROM OXYGEN-18 COMPRISING IRRADATING A SOLUTIN CONTAINING UO2F2, HF, H2O AND A LARGE EXCESS OF METHANOL WITH LASER LIGHT HAVING A WAVELENGTH WITHIN A LIMITED RANGE SELECTED FROM WITHIN THE GENRAL RANGE OF 22,250 CM-1 TO 27,600 CM-1, WHEREBY THE REACTION 2 UO2F2 + CH3OH + 4HF $ 2UF4 + HCOOH + 3 H2O PROCEEDS PREFERNTIALLY WITH UO2F2 CONTAINING THE OXYGEN 16 ISOTOPE, UNTIL ABOUT 10% OF THE UO2F2 HAS REACTED, FILTERING PRODUCT UF4 FROM THE SOLUTION AND RECOVERING UO2F2 ENRICHED IN THE OXYGEN-18 ISOTOPE FROM THE SOLUTION.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the UO2F2 solution is further processed photochemically prior to recovery of UO2F2 from the solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the UO2F2 is recovered from the solution by distilling the remaining components of the solution therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the laser light is from a dye laser having an energy output of 10 millijoules/pulse and a pulse rate of 1 pulse/sec.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 49 words
Method according to claim 4 wherein the wavelength of the laser light is 22,250 cm 1 to 23,000 cm 1, 24,250 cm 1 to 24,750 cm 1, 25,000 cm 1 to 25,400 cm 1, 25,600 cm 1 to 26,100 cm 1 or 26,500 cm 1 to 27,600 cm 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
Method according to claim 5 wherein the molar ratio of UO2F2 to HF to H2O to CH3OH in the solution is 1:2:26.67:400.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3405045A Cited
US3765844A Cited
US3808550A Cited
US3794716A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-12-01 1979-06-02 1979-12-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-12-01 1983-06-02 1983-12-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-12-01 1987-06-02 1987-12-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag