Separation of isotopes of zirconium

This patent describes a method of producing zirconium having a low neutron-absorption cross section for use in parts of a nuclear reactor. The method consists of producing a material of one or more of the class of compounds consisting of zirconium tetra-tertiary butoxide, Zr(OC4H9)/sup 4T/ zirconium tetra-tertiary amyloxide, Zr(OC5H11)/sup 4T/, and zirconium tetra-tertiary isopropoxide, Zr(OC3H7)/sup 4T/. The compounds contain isotopes of zirconium, subjecting the vapor emitted from the material to radiation emitted from a carbon dioxide laser tuned to the vibration of the fundamental of the C-O-90Zr bond of the material, to excite selectively the C-O-90Zr bond, whereby the 90Zr component of the material is decomposed, separating the product of the decomposition of the 90Zr component from the remainder of the irradiated material, and forming the parts of a nuclear reactor of zirconium of the 90Zr component of the material