Helium tracer applications

Another example of the power of this method was its application to the Fischer Tropsch(90) synthesis. This reaction was first run with CO and H2 until a steady state was attained. The reactive gases were flushed off with helium and deuterium was then introduced. The hydrocarbons produced were all completely deuterated suggesting that the active intermediate on the surface was carbon. The deuterium tracer work was carried out extensively in England by C. Kemball and G. C. Bond and in the United States by R. L. Burwell, Jr. 

The presence of radioactive decay products In lead sources or tracers obtained from natural sources is undesirable for some applications. A number of lead Isotopes can be produced in carrier-free form and In high yield by helium-Ion bombardment of mercury or by protnn or deuteron bombardment of thallium targets. The isotopes prepared in this way and the relevant reactions are indicated In Table I. 

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