Depleted zinc oxide

Depleted zinc oxide (DZO) is a zinc oxide depleted in the zinc isotope with the atomic mass 64, and used as a corrosion inhibitor in nuclear pressurized water reactors.

The depletion of ⁶⁴Zn is necessary, because this isotope is transformed into ⁶⁵Zn by neutron capture. ⁶⁵Zn with a half-life of 244.26 days emits gamma radiation with 1.115 MeV.[1] ⁶⁴Zn has a natural abundance of 48.6%, but in DZO it is reduced below 1%. Adding zinc oxide to the primary water loop of a boiling water reactor or pressurized water nuclear reactor reduces corrosion and therefore minimizes the amount of dissolved materials, especially ⁶⁰Co.

The isotope separation of zinc is done by gas centrifugation of diethylzinc.

References

Cowan, R. L. (2001). "BWR water chemistry—a delicate balance". Nuclear Energy. 40 (4): 245–252. doi:10.1680/nuen.40.4.245.39338.

Roost, E.; Funck, E.; Spernol, A.; Vaninbroukx, R. (1972). "The decay of 65Zn". Zeitschrift für Physik. 250 (5): 395. Bibcode:1972ZPhy..250..395D. doi:10.1007/BF01379752.

External links

"Depleted Zinc Isotopes". tracesciences.com. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
"Depleted Zinc for the Nuclear Industry" (PDF). Nukem. Retrieved 2008-12-13.

(Dead link 2019-5-27)

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[1] Roost, E.; Funck, E.; Spernol, A.; Vaninbroukx, R. (1972). "The decay of 65Zn". Zeitschrift für Physik. 250 (5): 395. Bibcode:1972ZPhy..250..395D. doi:10.1007/BF01379752.