Patent US4200507A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4200507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separation of uranium isotopes
Assignee: General Atomics Corp
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Filing: 1976-12-03
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Granted: 1980-04-29
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Expires: 1996-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Methods and Apparatus for separation of uranium isotopes by selective isotopic excitation of photochemically reactive uranyl salt source material at cryogenic temperatures, followed by chemical separation of selectively photochemically reduced U+4 thereby produced from remaining uranyl source material.
Inventors
- 👤 II John T. Porter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:09
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/121; B01D; B01D59/00; B01D59/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for separating uranium isotopes comprising the steps of providing a solid, crystalline, uranyl salt source material which is photochemically reactive to reduce uranyl cations to tetravalent uranium ions, selectively irradiating said photochemically reactive uranyl source material at an electronic absorption wavelength in the range from about 20,000 to about 27,000 cm -1 which is selective to a desired isotope of said uranyl source material at an effective cryogenic temperature for isotope spectral line splitting below about 77° K., without substantial photochemical reduction of the source material at cryogenic temperature, further irradiating said source material within the fluorescent lifetime of the selectively irradiated source material to selectively photochemically reduce the selectively excited isotopic species from UO 2 +2 to tetravalent U +4 , and chemically separating the reduced tetravalent isotope species from the remaining uranyl salt compound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for separating uranium isotopes comprising the steps of providing a solid, crystalline, uranyl salt source material which is photochemically reactive to reduce uranyl cations to tetravalent uranium ions, selectively irradiating said photochemically reactive uranyl source material at an electronic absorption wavelength in the range from about 20,000 to about 27,000 cm -1 which is selective to a desired isotope of said uranyl source material at an effective cryogenic temperature for isotope spectral line splitting below about 77° K., without substantial photochemical reduction of the source material at cryogenic temperature, further irradiating said source material within the fluorescent lifetime of the selectively irradiated source material to selectively photochemically reduce the selectively excited isotopic species from UO 2 +2 to tetravalent U +4 , and chemically separating the reduced tetravalent isotope species from the remaining uranyl salt compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said further irradiation is carried out by means of infrared laser radiation at a vibrational absorption wavelength of the uranium-oxygen bond of the electronically excited uranyl source material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said further excitation is induced electronic absorption to produce UO 2 +2 ions of sufficient instability at said cryogenic temperature for photochemical reduction thereof at said cryogenic temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said crystalline source material contains a formate anion species.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said crystalline source material contains an anion species derived from ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source material is crystalline uranyl formate monohydrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source material contains photo oxidizable ions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-04-29 | 1983-10-29 | 1984-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-04-29 | 1987-10-29 | 1988-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-04-29 | 1991-10-29 | 1992-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |