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MERCURY
Natural Abundance, Stable Isobars Hg196, 0.146%, Pt196 Hg198, 10.02%, Pt198 Hg199, 16.84%, Pb204 Hg200, 23.13%, Hg201, 13.22% Hg202, 29.80% Hg204, 6.85% Mercuric chloride, mercuric sulfide, and mercury metal have been used as charge material in the separation of mercury isotopes. The compounds are used as internal charges while the metal is fed to the calutron from an external source container. Mercuric sulfide proved to be the most satisfactory charge material. The average charge consists of 125 g HgS in a style X-5 stainless steel charge bottle. Mercuric sulfide is purchased from commercial vendors and outgassed by heating under vacuum at 300° C for four hours before being used. Although the red HgS, a form, is the only type of HgS which has been used for calutron charge, there is no reason to believe that the black HgS, b form, would not be equally satisfactory. Mercury and its compounds are considered quite toxic and should be handled in fume hoods with good exhaust ventilation. It is recommended that rubber gloves and safety glasses be worn when working with mercury, and the whole work area should be well ventilated. |
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