New techniques for germanium enrichment

1
New techniques for germanium enrichment (LoI)
The extension of the GeCl4 technology to produce
the necessary amount of enriched material for an
estimate of its economical efficiency is one of
the foreseen RD topics. Its isotope selection
and all other technological processes connected
with GeCl4 will be studied in detail. In addition
it is planned to develop measurement techniques
to identify the U/Th contamination in the raw and
enriched germanium material. Once established
they will be applied for monitoring the
separation process.
2

• Two year plan.
• Year 1.
• Purchasing of 50 kg GeCl4. Test of chemical
  purity and necessity of additional purification.
• Experiments with one separation unit (20
  centrifuges) investigations of chemical
  stability of GeCl4 in the process of separation,
  receiving necessary separation parameters.
• Adjusting of method of mass-spectral measurements
  of slightly enriched product for ensuring
  reliability of all data.
• Numerical modeling of separation process in
  cascades. Estimation of extraction efficiency.
• Year 2.
• Search for possibility of chemical isotope
  exchange for getting equilibrium in Chlorine
  isotopes distribution.
• Works with separation cascade. In dependence on
  results of p.1 production of 0.5-1 kg of Ge-76
  with IE 85.
• How this amount will be tested for U/Th contents?
  Common decision should be found and made.