| Return to index page |
|
|
SILVER
Natural Abundance, Stable Isobars Ag107, 51.35%, None Ag109, 48.65% Silver chloride, silver bromide, and silver iodide have been used as charge material for the separation of the isotopes of silver. All three compounds were used successfully, but from an operational and economical standpoint AgCl is preferred. The usual charge consists of 500 g AgCl in a style C-18 graphite charge bottle. Silver chloride is prepared in the laboratory by dissolving silver metal in nitric acid and precipitating the chloride by addition of hydrochloric acid. The insoluble AgCl is isolated by filtration, washing, drying, and outgassing at 400ºC for four hours before being used as charge material. Due to the initial cost of silver, the unresolved charge material is recycled and recovered. Calutron source, receiver, and liner are washed with nitric acid, and the solution is filtered. The solids are reduced with hydrogen at 700ºC for three hours, leached with hot 25% nitric acid until no more silver is dissolved, and again filtered. These filtrates are combined, and silver is precipitated by the addition of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The AgCl is filtered, washed with water until the ring test for nitrate ion is negative, and dried and outgassed for four hours at 400ºC. The material is then ready to be reused as charge material. The soluble silver salts are toxic but the metal itself is insoluble, inactive and safe to handle. Personnel exposed to the dust of silver or its compounds should wear safety goggles, gloves, and respirators. |
|
|
to Top | Return to index page |
|