Reactor-irradiated phosphoryl chloride

Abstract

Samples of POCl 3 were reactor irradiated for varying periods of time in a thermal neutron flux of approximately 6 × 10 11 n cm −2 sec −1. The irradiated samples were examined by carrier distillation techniques which showed the presence of 32PCl 3, 32POCl 3 and a labelled high-boiling component. A changing distribution of 32P in the products was observed. The percentage of total 32P found in combination as 32PCl 3 decreased from about 60 per cent to less than 10 per cent to less than 10 per cent with increasing irradiation time while that found as 32POCl 3 increased from about 30 per cent to greater than 80 per cent. Phosphorus exchange in the system PCl 3 32POCl 3 was investigated and appeared to be negligible for the distillation conditions used in this study.