LASER METHOD FOR CARBON ISOTOPE PRODUCTION Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: chemical and nuclear engineering. SUBSTANCE: proposed method is used for industrial-scale production of carbon dioxide enriched by C-13 isotope. Freon-and-oxygen mixture is supplied to inlet of laser reactor 1. The latter is disposed inside pulse-periodic carbon dioxide laser 2. Buffer gas (nitrogen) is supplied to connecting pipes. Gas mixture has in its composition CF₂HCl, N₂, O₂, HCl, C₂F₂, COF₂. at outlet of laser reactor 1 and is doped with iodine vapors. Mixture obtained is conveyed to photochemical reactor 3 irradiated from outside with incandescent lamps of 300 W each. Mixture incorporating CF₂HCl, N₂, O₂, HCl, COF₂, J₂, in its composition that escapes from photochemical reactor 3 is passed to adsorber wherein iodine vapors are entrapped. CF₂HCl, HCl, COF₂. are held in cryogenic condenser 5. Mixture of gases N₂ and O₂ is supplied again to inlet of laser reactor 1 from cryogenic condenser 5 by means of gas blower 6. Liquid is passed from cryogenic condenser 5 to evaporator 7 and then to absorber 8. Freon depleted by isotope C-13 is condensed upon passing drier 9 with aid of compressor 10 and fed to accumulator 11. Liquid flowing from absorber 8 is essentially carbonate. Carbon dioxide enriched by isotope C-13 is obtained by reaction between this carbonate and acid. Proposed method makes it possible to avoid cryogenic rectification stage for freon. In the process laser reactor 1 can be cooled down to temperatures as low as 50 to 100 C. EFFECT: reduced amount of chemical agents used. 1 cl, 1 dwg