Efficiency of rough packing application in isotope separation chemical exchange processes

Quantitative data on the effect of packing surface state on the intensity of separation of stable isotopes of light elements using the chemical exchange method are presented. For the experiments a triangular packing of the 1Kh18N9T stainless steel (wire diameter is 0.2 mm) was used and the possibility of increasing the packing efficiency by treatment in various solvents (H2SO4, HCl, HF, HCl+HNO3, KOH and NaOH) has been studied. The investigation results show, that the treatment of the packing in a selective solvent (sulphuric acid) contributes to the intensification of the processes of nitrogen, boron, sulphur, carbon isotope separation using the chemical exchange method. A conclusion is drawn, that the intensification of isotope separation using rough packings depends on several factors, i. e. on treatment of the packing in a selective solvent that improves its capillar properties, which promotes a uniform spread of the liquid over the packing surface; on decrease of threshold flow of liquid overflowing from the element located above to the one located below, which promotes reduction in the number of stagnant zones; on increase in the interface surface due to the growth of packing element number in a unit volume; on increase in the distance between the coils that decreases the liquid accumulation in the intercoil space