GB928227A - Improvements in methods for enriching ammonia in deuterium - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0928227/III/1> In a process of enriching NH3 in D, liquid NH3 mixed with an alkali metal catalyst, e.g. KNH2, is contacted in counterflow with gaseous H2 in two or more stages in each of which the NH3 passes in succession first through a reactor operated at a lower temperature, e.g. -40 DEG C., and then through a reactor operated at a higher temperature, e.g. +30 DEG C., and the H2 passes through the same reactors in the inverse order, fresh liquid NH3 is continuously fed at 45 to the low temperature reactor 39 of the first stage 36, H2 carrying D-enriched NH3, but free from catalyst, is passed, on its way from the high temperature reactor 44 of the last stage 38 to the low temperature reactor 41 thereof, through a condenser 52 where at least the major proportion of the NH3 carried by the gas is condensed, a portion of the condensed NH3 is withdrawn as product at 46, and the remainder is returned at 53 to the NH3 cycle, and D-impoverished H2 is continuously withdrawn at 49 from the low temperature reactor 39 of the first stage. The NH3 cycle through three stages 36, 37, 38 of the cascade is shown in continuous lines, while the H2 cycle is shown in dotted lines.