Isotopic separation by photopredissociation

Claim 1

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to be raised to an excited electronic state and to be dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: submitting said dissociable molecules to light in said given spectrum range, to cause said molecules to be raised to said excited electronic state, thereby dissociating said molecules containing said first isotope, said first isotope entering into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 2

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to be raised to an excited electronic state and to be dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: submitting said dissociable molecules to light in said given spectrum range, to cause said molecules to be raised to said excited electronic state, thereby dissociating said molecules containing said first isotope, said first isotope entering into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 6

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to be spontaneously pre-dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: bombarding said dissociable molecules with photons in said given spectrum range to produce a spontaneous predissociation of said molecules containing said first isotope, so that said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 7

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to be spontaneously pre-dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: bombarding said dissociable molecules with photons in said given spectrum range to produce a spontaneous predissociation of said molecules containing said first isotope, so that said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 11

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to become photoexcited, thereby rendering them capable of easily being dissociated, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: bombarding said dissociable molecules with photons in said given spectrum range, thereby placing said first isotope in a photoexcited state, applying an electric field to said bombarded molecules, thereby inducing the molecules thus photoexcited to dissociate so that said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 12

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to become photoexcited, thereby rendering them capable of easily being dissociated, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: bombarding said dissociable molecules with photons in said given spectrum range, thereby placing said first isotope in a photoexcited state, applying an electric field to said bombarded molecules, thereby inducing the molecules thus photoexcited to dissociate so that said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 13

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to become photoexcited, thereby rendering them capable of easily being dissociated, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: bombarding said dissociable molecules with photons in said given spectrum range, thereby placing said first isotope in a photoexcited state, applying a magnetic field to said bombarded molecules, thereby inducing the molecules thus photoexcited to dissociate so that said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 14

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to become photoexcited, thereby rendering them capable of easily being dissociated, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: bombarding said dissociable molecules with photons in said given spectrum range, thereby placing said first isotope in a photoexcited state, applying a magnetic field to said bombarded molecules, thereby inducing the molecules thus photoexcited to dissociate so that said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 15

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to be raised to a photoexcited electronic state rendering them capable of being dissociated, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: bombarding said dissociable molecules with photons in said given spectrum range, thereby placing said first isotope in a photexcited electronic state, causing said bombarded and photexcited molecules to collide with other molecules, thereby inducing the molecules thus photexcited to dissociate so that said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 16

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photexcitation of dissociable molecules in which at least one element is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules which contain a first said isotope having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and to be raised to a photoexcited electronic state rendering them capable of being dissociated, than do those said molecules which contain a second said isotope, comprising the steps of: bombarding said dissociable molecules with photons in said given spectrum range, thereby placing said first isotope in a photexcited electronic state, causing said bombarded and photexcited molecules to collide with other molecules, thereby inducing the molecules thus photexcited to dissociate so that said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state, and physically separating the matter constituting said first isotope in its different chemical state from the remainder of said matter.

Claim 17

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of formaldehyde in which hydrogen is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules containing deuterium having a significant tendency to absorb light at 3472 A preferantially and being dissociated thereby, comprising the steps of: directing a laser beam of 3472 A light on gaseous formaldehyde, whereby said formaldehyde molecules containing deuterium re dissociated into D 2 and CO and said deuterium enters into a stable chemical state as D 2 , and physically separating said D 2 from said formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.

Claim 18

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of formaldehyde in which hydrogen is present as a plurality of isotopes, those said molecules containing deuterium having a significant tendency to absorb light at 3472 A preferantially and being dissociated thereby, comprising the steps of: directing a laser beam of 3472 A light on gaseous formaldehyde, whereby said formaldehyde molecules containing deuterium re dissociated into D 2 and CO and said deuterium enters into a stable chemical state as D 2 , and physically separating said D 2 from said formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.

Claim 19

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of gaseous formaldehyde in which at least carbon is present as a plurality of isotopes, those molecules containing a first said isotope of carbon having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and being dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules containing a second said isotope of carbon, comprising the steps of: submitting said formaldehyde to a laser beam in said given spectrum range, whereby said formaldehyde molecules containing said first isotope are dissociated and said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state as oxide of carbon, and physically separating the carbon oxide gas from said formaldehyde.

Claim 20

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of gaseous formaldehyde in which at least carbon is present as a plurality of isotopes, those molecules containing a first said isotope of carbon having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and being dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules containing a second said isotope of carbon, comprising the steps of: submitting said formaldehyde to a laser beam in said given spectrum range, whereby said formaldehyde molecules containing said first isotope are dissociated and said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state as oxide of carbon, and physically separating the carbon oxide gas from said formaldehyde.

Claim 21

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of gaseous formaldehyde in which at least oxygen is present as a plurality of isotopes, those molecules containing a first said isotope of oxygen having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and being dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules containing a second said isotope of oxygen, comprising the steps of: submitting said formaldehyde to a laser beam in said given spectrum range, whereby said formaldehyde molecules containing said first isotope ar dissociated and said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state as oxide of carbon, and physically separating the carbon oxide gas from said formaldehyde.

Claim 22

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of gaseous formaldehyde in which at least oxygen is present as a plurality of isotopes, those molecules containing a first said isotope of oxygen having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and being dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules containing a second said isotope of oxygen, comprising the steps of: submitting said formaldehyde to a laser beam in said given spectrum range, whereby said formaldehyde molecules containing said first isotope ar dissociated and said first isotope enters into a different stable chemical state as oxide of carbon, and physically separating the carbon oxide gas from said formaldehyde.

Claim 23

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of gaseous iodine chloride in which at least chlorine is present as a plurality of isotopes, those molecules containing a first said isotope of chlorine having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and being dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules containing a second said isotope of chlorine, comprising the steps of: submitting said iodine chloride to a laser beam in said given spectrum range, and in association with hydrogen bromide, whereby said iodine chloride molecules containing said first isotope are dissociated, giving free chlorine, said free chlorine then reacting with said hydrogen bromide to produce hydrogen chloride, and physically separating the hydrogen chloride from said iodine chloride.

Claim 24

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of gaseous iodine chloride in which at least chlorine is present as a plurality of isotopes, those molecules containing a first said isotope of chlorine having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and being dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules containing a second said isotope of chlorine, comprising the steps of: submitting said iodine chloride to a laser beam in said given spectrum range, and in association with hydrogen bromide, whereby said iodine chloride molecules containing said first isotope are dissociated, giving free chlorine, said free chlorine then reacting with said hydrogen bromide to produce hydrogen chloride, and physically separating the hydrogen chloride from said iodine chloride.

Claim 25

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of gaseous bromine in which the bromine is present as a plurality of isotopes, those molecules which are made up of a first said isotope of bromine having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and being dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules otherwise constituted, comprising the steps of: submitting said bromine to a laser beam in said given spectrum range, whereby said bromine molecules made up of said first isotope are photoexcited, inducing collision between said photoexcited molecules and other molecules, so that said photoexcited bromine molecules dissociate, chemically trapping said dissociated free bromine by chemical reaction with a reagent, physically separating the resulting chemically combined bromine from the molecular bromine.

Claim 26

A method for producing isotopically enriched material by photoexcitation of gaseous bromine in which the bromine is present as a plurality of isotopes, those molecules which are made up of a first said isotope of bromine having a significantly greater tendency to absorb a given spectrum range of light and being dissociated thereby, than do those said molecules otherwise constituted, comprising the steps of: submitting said bromine to a laser beam in said given spectrum range, whereby said bromine molecules made up of said first isotope are photoexcited, inducing collision between said photoexcited molecules and other molecules, so that said photoexcited bromine molecules dissociate, chemically trapping said dissociated free bromine by chemical reaction with a reagent, physically separating the resulting chemically combined bromine from the molecular bromine.

Claim 27

A method for separating isotopes comprising: impinging a beam of monochromatic light upon a chemical compound which includes at least two isotopes of one element and wherein one only of these isotopes is dissociated from said chemical compound by photoexcitation to a different electronic state from said monochromatic light, and separating said isotope from the undissociated chemical compound of the isotopes.

Claim 28

A method for separating isotopes comprising: impinging a beam of monochromatic light upon a chemical compound which includes at least two isotopes of one element and wherein one only of these isotopes is dissociated from said chemical compound by photoexcitation to a different electronic state from said monochromatic light, and separating said isotope from the undissociated chemical compound of the isotopes.