Ionization effected removal of alkali composition from a hot gas

摘要

A process for ionization-effected removal of alkali composition from an ultrahigh temperature gaseous mixture containing the composition in vapor form is described. A flow of the hot gaseous mixture is conducted through a flow-through network in intimate contact with a metalliferous surface having a work function of at least 5.3 electron volts. The mixture heats the surface to the requisite temperature for effecting substantial alkali metal ionization. The resulting ions are removed by passing the resulting mixture containing same along a flow path through the lines of force of an electrical field of sufficiently low voltage to avoid both glow discharge and breakdown discharge. The lines of force extend to an electrically conductive ion-collection surface maintained at a sufficiently low temperature such that the ions are retained on the latter surface as a condensed phase.