Uranium plasma separation

Improved electromagnetic processes. Developments in plasma physics and magnet design in the 30 years since the Y-12 plant was taken off uranium isotope separation have caused many groups to reexamine electromagnetic processes for separating uranium isotopes, some of which reported at the London Conference on Uranium Isotope Separation [B20]. In the United States... 

The Energy Research and Development Agency (ERDA), the forerunner to the DOE, through the late 1970s to 1981 supported the study of three new experimental processes for uranium enrichment. Two were based upon laser separation, and one on plasma separation. Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes Incorporated (subsidiary of Exxon) and the LLNL worked on atomic uranium vapor. LLNL referred to it as AVUS. The LANL and a group at Exxon Research Laboratories (not connected with Jersey-Avco) worked on molecular UFg. TRW Incorporated pursued research work on a plasma separation process. Union Carbide Nuclear Division (UCC-ND) supported each in their efforts. In 1981, the AVLIS process at LLNL was selected as the process to be developed further and the other processes were subsequently phased out. 

HAWORTH. SIR WALTER N. 0883-1950). An English chemist who received the Nobel prize in chemistry in 1937 along with Paul Karrer. He recommended the name ascorbic acid and synthesized vitamin C, He accomplished much work on carbohydrate structure und developed a substitute for blood plasma using carbohydrates. During World War 11. he developed gaseous diffusion separation on uranium isotopes. He received his Ph D. in Manchester. England. 

Eujino O, Umetani S, Matsui M. 1994. Determination of uranium in apatite minerals by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after solvent extraction and separation with 3-phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone into diisobutyl ketone. Analytica Chimica Acta 296 63-68. 

Accurate results of this type are needed for determining laser utilization in laser isotope separation of uranium. The application of this technique to obtain results for other elements would be useful in astronomy and plasma physics. 

As the oceans of the world contain about 10 kg of deuterium and resources of lithium minerals are of comparable magnitude, it is clear that if this fusion reaction could be utilized in a practical nuclear reactor, the world s energy resources would be enormously increased. Although intensive research is being conducted on confinement of thermonuclear plasmas, it is not yet clear whether a practical and economic fusion reactor can be developed. If fusion does become practical, isotope separation processes for extracting deuterium from natural water and for concentrating from natural lithium will become of importance comparable to the separation of U from natural uranium. 

Briefly, LA ICP-MS, SIMS, and GDMS are suitable for the direct analysis of trace uranium in solid samples. RIMS offers near complete suppression of interferences. Quadrupole ICP-MS is relatively low cost and the most available. In sector field ICP-MS, the mass resolution can be increased up to 0.02 of a mass unit, which provides an inherent separation of many interferences. All types of ICP-MS can be coupled with a range of sample introduction systems to improve the delivery of sample to the plasma, and thereby increase the sensitivity of the measurement. TIMS provides the best isotope ratio measurements, with typical precisions of 0.25%, and AMS offers the lowest detection limits, in the region of 10 atoms, and effective reduction of interferences. 

Satyanarayana, K. and Durani, S. (2010). Separation and indnetively eonpled plasma optical emission spectrometric (ICP-OES) of trace impurities in nuclear grade uranium oxide, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 285, 659-665. 

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). After conducting uranium separation, 1 ml of the uranium fraction stripped from the column was dried in a clean beaker, then 1 ml of cHNOs was added and dried again to remove any residual HCl. The residue was then dissolved in 10 ml 2 % HNO3. From ICP-MS analysis, the 235yy238y determined and used with the known activities to calculate... 

Kato, K., Ito, M., and Watanabe, K. (2000). Determination of thorium and uranium in activated concrete by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after anion- exchange separation. Ftesem Ms J. Ana/. Chem. 366(1), 54. 

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