Reaktion #1719619
ord-1a50f51fdeb2411799c19da8019e9cd2
Reaktionsgleichung
Reagenzien
Reaktionsbedingungen
Aufarbeitung
- 1SonstigeA preferred method of preparing the composition of the present invention
- 2SonstigeThis powder may be advantageously prepared
Vorschrift
A preferred method of preparing the composition of the present invention is to first prepare lithium aluminate powder. This powder may be advantageously prepared using sol-gel techniques so that uniformly sized particles with known properties are achieved. Briefly, aluminium oxide is dissolved in nitric acid to form an aluminum nitrate solution. The aluminum nitrate solution is then reacted with ammonia to return aluminum oxide, now in the form of an alumina sol. At this point, a stoichiometric amount of a soluble lithium compound is added to the solution. Depending upon the neutronic characteristics of the reactor, it may be desirable to use lithium fully enriched in the lithium isotope. The alumina sol-lithium mixture is then added dropwise into a bath of solvent which is at least partially immiscible in the alumina sol. As part of the moisture present in the sol is extracted into the solvent, the sol is converted into perfect spheres of a gel. Through appropriate sizing of the drop-forming means, such as a vibrating nozzle, the resulting particles will be sized between 100 and 500 micrometers. The microspheres may then be heated to drive off remaining moisture and then heated to a high temperature to form the compound lithium aluminate.