Fast volatility of nuclear reaction products as oxides, chlorides and organometallic compounds

Separations for heavy elements of the periodic system of elements were investigated in this study for selectivity, effectivity and rate. They were based, on the one hand, on the volatility with organometallic compounds, on the other hand, on the carrier-free volatility from salt melts. Group-specific volatility reactions were looked for regarding the separation of superheavy elements after heavy ion reactions. In the test series, energy rich atoms of suitable elements were produced in nuclear reactions and by breaking in suitable media, 'synthesis reactions' were induced which led to volatile products. Firstly metal organic systems were tested as breaking medium for the selective formation of volatile reaction products. It was found that a volatile cyclopentadienyl compound is specific for the elements of the iron group (Fe, Ru, Os, 108), one via hexacarbonyls is specific for elements of the 6th subgroup of the periodic system and one via multinuclear carbonyls is specific for all elements of the 7th and 8th subgroup, which form carbonyls. The second part of the work deals with the volatility of products from the thermal fission of uranium from uranium oxide/boron oxide or uranium oxide/strontium chloride melts and their separation in the mass separator. Good results were obtained in a discontinuous method for the fission products iodine, tellurium, zirconium and antimony. On-line experiments on the Triga reactor in Mainz with a heatable target system for the uranium oxide/boron oxide melts gave satisfactory yields for the separation of fission noble gases and fission halogens. (orig./RB)