METHOD OF OXYGEN ISOTOPE CONCENTRATION

摘要

The method for concentrating an oxygen isotope or isotopes of the present invention combines the step of concentrating 17 O and/or the step of depleting 18 O that utilizes photodissociation of ozone by a laser beam with an oxygen distillation step that concentrates the oxygen isotope. At this time, it is preferable to carry out a step of isotope scrambling in addition to the above. When both a step of concentrating 17 O and a step of depleting 18 O are carried out, whichever thereof may be done first prior to the other. Also these steps may be placed either before or after the oxygen distillation step. Moreover, at least one of said oxygen distillation step, the concentrating 17 O step, the depleting 18 O step and the isotope scrambling step is preferably carried out twice or more.