Centrifugal Separation of Carbon Isotopes Using Carbon Tetrafluoride as Processing Gas

Abstract

At present, the application of carbon isotope is becoming more and more extensive, especially in the field of medical testing, and the demand for ¹³C in high abundance is fast increasing. Using carbon tetrafluoride (CF₄) as separation medium, study on centrifugal separation of carbon isotopes was carried out. Single-centrifuge experiments were done based on modified domestic gas centrifuges. As a result, the separation factor and single-centrifuge separative power under different working conditions were obtained. Based on the results of single-centrifuge separation experiments, cascade calculation of the enrichment of ¹³C isotope was conducted by ideal cascade. According to calculation results, through two cascade separations, ¹³C isotope could be enriched from 30% to above 99% in abundance. The study laid a good basement for production of ¹³C isotope in high abundance.