Specific Examples, Isotope Separation by Distillation

An early CO distillation pilot plant described by Johns (in London (1961), reading list), used a two section vacuum insulated column packed with wire gauze rings. The upper section was 5.2 m long with a diameter of 3.2cm, the lower 4.6 m x 1.9 cm. The column contained about 600 plates. An intermediate boiler re-evaporated part of the downward flowing liquid at the junction. This plant accumulates product in the liquid and enriches toward the bottom. Enriched CO (0.4 g day-1 of 65% 13C and 0.05 g day-1 of 5% lsO) was withdrawn from the bottom 

3 Isotope Enrichment by Distillation of Nitrous Oxide or Water 

An alternative and more widely used technique for lsO production is via water distillation. The separation factors are much smaller than they are for NO, and the number of plates required, the time to production, and the energy demand and capital costs commensurately larger, but cost of feed, ease of handling, and safety concerns favor water distillation. Production columns are located in the United States, Israel, Russia and other countries. The Israeli plant has the advantage of using already partially enriched Dead Sea water as feed. 

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