Abrégé

This invention provides a method for separating and enriching isotopes in an efficient and low-cost manner from a condensation-system (liquid or/and solid) material comprising two or more different isotopes by taking advantage of the sedimentation of atoms through an acceleration field by ultra-high speed rotation. A condensation-system (liquid or/and solid) material (5) comprising the two or more isotopes is placed in a sedimentation tank (for example, (2)) which is then housed in a supercentrifuge. The supercentrifuge in its rotor (1) is rotation driven by an ultra-high speed rotation power source, and an acceleration field of energy of 100000 G to 1500000 G, i.e., about 100 to 800 m/s in terms of peripheral velocity, is applied to the above condensed (liquid or/and solid) material under such a temperature that is specified by an isotope material to be enriched. In this case, a difference in centrifugal force applied is provided between the isotopes in the condensed (liquid or/and solid) material comprising the at least two isotopes. By virtue of sedimentation by taking advantage of this difference, isotope atoms within the condensed material interact, and, consequently, separation and enrichment of the isotopes can be realized in a higher efficiency than the case where gas is used, by conducting the separation and enrichment of the isotopes within the liquid material, using an effective material, and using a multistaged rotor system.

Classes IPC  ?

• B01D 59/20 - Séparation par centrifugation
• B01J 19/00 - Procédés chimiques, physiques ou physico-chimiques en généralAppareils appropriés
• B04B 5/02 - Centrifugeurs constitués par plusieurs tambours indépendants tournant autour d'un axe situé entre les tambours
• B04B 15/02 - Autres accessoires pour centrifugeurs pour le refroidissement, le chauffage, ou l'isolation thermique
• C22F 3/00 - Modification de la structure physique des métaux ou alliages non ferreux par des méthodes physiques particulières, p. ex. traitement par les neutrons
• C23C 10/28 - Diffusion à l'état solide uniquement d'éléments métalliques ou de silicium dans la couche superficielle de matériaux métalliques au moyen de solides, p. ex. au moyen de poudres, de pâtes