18O enrichment process in UO2F2 utilizing laser light

Photochemical reaction induced by laser light is employed to separate oxygen isotopes. A solution containing UO2F2, HF, H2O and a large excess of CH3OH is irradiated with laser light of appropriate wavelength to differentially excite the UO22+ ions containing 16O atoms and cause a reaction to proceed in accordance with the reaction 2 UO2F2 + CH3OH + 4 HF → 2 UF4 down arrow + HCOOH + 3 H2O. Irradiation is discontinued when about 10 percent of the UO2F2 has reacted, the UF4 is filtered from the reaction mixture and the residual CH3OH and HF plus the product HCOOH and H2O are distilled away from the UO2F2 which is thereby enriched in the 18O isotope, or the solution containing the UO2F2 may be photochemically processed again to provide further enrichment in the 18O isotope