Plasma Separation Process Research Articles

SIMULATION ON RED BLOOD CELL’S SEPARATION IN MICROCHANNEL BY USING COMSOL© MULTIPHYSICS

Plasma cell neoplasm disease was caused by the production of large amount of plasma cells which it is unnecessary for the body as it will accumulate in the bone marrow and cause blood thicken and damage the kidneys. Thus, there are several techniques that have been developed for the separation of plasma in blood e.g., viscosity-based sedimentation, size-based filtration, and complete blood count test. Yet, these techniques have some drawbacks such as blood cells easily damaged and do not meet the Point-of-Care (POCT) test features. Hence, in this study, an active separation technique; dielectrophoresis (DEP) force was applied in the X-shaped microchannel which was developed by using AutoCAD© software as it is easily to fabricate at a low cost, while resulting in a high rate of the separation efficiency. The flow profile of a blood distribution and movement along a microchannel was observed by COMSOL© Multiphysics software version 5.5 at various process conditions: blood inlet velocities; VIB=80-200 µm/s, concentration of blood cells; CIB=0.01-0.05 mol/dm3 and electrode voltages; E=-20-20V. It shows that as the inlet velocity is increases, the separation efficiency is increasing. While, as the concentration and electric field intensity is increases, the separation efficiency is decreases due to low DEP force. It shows 100% separation efficiency was obtained for plasma separation at VIB=120 µm/s, CIB= 0.01 mol/dm3, and E=±10V which resulted FDEP=-1.23×1014 N/m. This DEP separation technique can be applied to improve the efficiency of plasma separation process from blood cells and simultaneously increase the accuracy of the diagnostic.

Atmospheric Pressure DBD Plasma Ammonia Synthesis and Separation Process Design and Environmental Impact Assessment

Atmospheric Pressure DBD Plasma Ammonia Synthesis and Separation Process Design and Environmental Impact Assessment

Plant protein modified natural cellulose with multiple adsorption effects used for bilirubin removal

In this study, bacterial cellulose (BC)/soy protein isolate (SPI) composite membranes were prepared by in situ cross-linked polymerization, and used as efficient blood compatible adsorbents to remove bilirubin. The obtained composite membranes were successively characterized by FTIR, SEM, AFM, contact angle test and hemolysis assay, which exhibited unique protein coated 3D fibrous network structures, hydrophobic surfaces and outstanding blood compatibility due to the incorporation of SPI. The BC/SPI membranes with high SPI content showed high adsorption efficiency, short adsorption equilibrium time (2 h) and multiple adsorption effects on bilirubin. The adsorption rate for free bilirubin of BC/SPI5 membrane could reach 78.8% when the bilirubin concentration was 100 mg L−1, while it increased to over 96.5% when the initial bilirubin concentration exceeded 400 mg L−1. More importantly, the BC/SPI5 membrane still exhibited high adsorption rate (over 70%) in presence of albumin. Furthermore, the composite membrane could also maintain high dynamic adsorption efficiency in self-made hemoperfusion devices. This novel naturally-derived membrane is an economical and efficient absorbent for the remove of bilirubin, and will provide new ideas for therapy of hemoperfusion without plasma separation process.

Glucose and Cholesterol Sensing in Blood Plasma Using Zno-Paper Based Microfluidics

This work aims at investigating the reliability of ZnO-paper based microfluidic analytical devices (ZnO-µPAD) for blood plasma separation as well as bio-sensing of glucose and cholesterol. Two-layer paper-based microfluidic analytical devices coated with ZnO nanoflowers/ZnO spherical aggregates (ZnO-µPAD) for a rapid blood plasma separation and glucose sensing were developed. Plasma separation in ZnO-µPAD was evaluated experimentally and numerically using computational fluid dynamics package for a flow over porous networks. Glucose and cholesterol detection was carried out using spectroscopic techniques, both Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman measurements. The plasma separation process on ZnO NF-μPAD requires 250 s. The spectroscopic investigation reveals that the IR absorptions and Raman signals at the typical vibrational frequencies of glucose and cholesterol are increasing at higher concentration. After subtraction from absorption background arising from ZnO and the paper, a specific and linearly increasing IR absorption (913 and 1349 cm-1) and Raman signals (1346 and 1461 cm-1) are observable with a relatively good sensitivity.

Design of KEK Test Machine for Mo Isotope Separation Based on Ion Cyclotron Resonance Plasma Separation

We discuss the design of a KEK test machine for Mo isotope separation based on the ion cyclotron resonance plasma separation process (KEK-ICR-PSP). The test machine consists of a superconducting magnet of 1.5 T, an Ar sputtering plasma chamber, a helical coil of 30-cm-diameter and 60 cm length, providing an ICR heating field of about 20 V/m, an isotope collector, and RF power systems. The yield and purity of 100Mo and 98Mo are evaluated using a dedicated Monte Carlo simulation program, KEK-ICR-SIM. They are strongly affected by the energy spectra of Mo ions from the sputtering plasma chamber, which can be investigated with the test machine.

A new measurement method of separation percentage for human blood plasma based on ultrasound attenuation

In this research, the separation accuracy of blood-plasma-based multi-decay pulse-power technique (MDPPT) was presented. The MDPPT provides adjustable-path measurements according to the amplitude of transmitted pulses and accurate attenuation measurements of propagation echoes through blood and blood plasma; thus, reduction of time and power consumption during the plasma separation process was achieved using the centrifuge technique. A mathematical model of separation accuracy and attenuation was derived and it was used for concluding the blood plasma concentration based on attenuation. Multi levels of concentration yield 20, 35, 50, 80 and 93% of blood plasma separation percentage; whereas attenuation that is more than 80% of the separation percentage may prove useful for purity inspection and contaminant detection. The platform of separation process was built with multi-level pulse power controlled by the fuzzy logic approach and broadband transducers affixed on the outside of a low-reflection coefficient thin vessel. The signal in the receive transducer permits the measurement of the attenuation and the velocity by measuring the time of flight. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the appropriate plasma signal for each echo was obtained and was compared with that of blood to yield the attenuation as a function of separation percentage. The data show the feasibility for measuring a plasma separation of 97%. Therefore, such measurements can be proven useful for detecting contaminants in blood plasma and blood serum. The blood plasma separation accuracy measurements prove advantageous for saving time and power consumption of the separation process required. Key words: Attenuation measurements, blood plasma percentage, centrifuge device separation accuracy, contaminant detection.

Production of stable isotopes utilizing the plasma separation process

A plasma separation process (PSP) is being operated at Theragenics Corporation’s®, Oak Ridge, TN, facility for the enrichment of stable isotopes. The PSP utilizes ion cyclotron mass discrimination to separate isotopes on a relatively large scale. With a few exceptions, nearly any metallic element could be processed with PSP. Output isotope enrichment factor depends on natural abundance and mass separation and can be fairly high in some cases. The Theragenics™ PSP facility is believed to be the only such process currently in operation. This system was developed and formerly operated under the US Department of Energy Advanced Isotope Separation program. Theragenics™ also has a laboratory at the PSP site capable of harvesting the isotopes from the process and a mass spectrometer system for analyzing enrichment and product purity. Since becoming operational in 2002, Theragenics™ has utilized the PSP to separate isotopes of several elements including: dysprosium, erbium, gadolinium, molybdenum and nickel. Currently, Theragenics™ is using the PSP for the separation of 102Pd, which is used as precursor for the production of 103Pd. The 103Pd radioisotope is the active ingredient in TheraSeed®, which is used in the treatment of early stage prostate cancer and being investigated for other medical applications. New industrial, medical and research applications are being investigated for isotopes that can be enriched on the PSP. Pre-enrichment of accelerator or reactor targets offers improved radioisotope production. Theragenics operates 14 cyclotrons for proton activation and has access to HFIR at ORNL for neutron activation of radioisotopes.

Electrode System for Plasma Source with Crossed Fields

Previous investigations of the pulse plasma Source with Crossed electrical and magnetic Fields (SCF) showed its availability as the source of plasma flow for Plasma Separation Process. The modified design of electrode system for the Stationary SCF is described. The results of numerical simulation of thermal conditions and deformation modes for the modified electrode system are presented.

Industrial scale production of stable isotopes employing the technique of plasma separation

Calutrons, centrifuges, diffusion and distillation processes are some of the devices and techniques that have been employed to produce substantial quantities of enriched stable isotopes. Nevertheless, the availability of enriched isotopes in sufficient quantities for industrial applications remains very restricted. Industries such as those involved with medicine, semiconductors, nuclear fuel, propulsion, and national defense have identified the potential need for various enriched isotopes in large quantities. Economically producing most enriched (non-gaseous) isotopes in sufficient quantities has so far eluded commercial producers. The plasma separation process is a commercial technique now available for producing large quantities of a wide range of enriched isotopes. Until recently, this technique has mainly been explored with small-scale (‘proof-of-principle’) devices that have been built and operated at research institutes. The new TheragenicsTM facility at Oak Ridge, TN houses the only existing commercial scale PSP system. This device, which successfully operated in the 1980's, has recently been re-commissioned and is planned to be used to produce a variety of isotopes. This report will summarize the progress and the capabilities of this device and it's potential for impacting the world's supply of stable isotopes in the future. This technique now holds promise of being able to open the door to allowing new and exciting applications of these isotopes in the future.

Isotope separation required in SCNES and future subjects

In the SCNES studies it has been confirmed that transmutation of radioactive nuclides and of net energy generation can be attained simultaneously. In order to realize the SCNES, material separation, isotope separation of the FP's and future subjects to be solved are discussed. In this paper we discuss about the required energy for a scheme of atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) of FP's, the practical isotope separation system and the combination of AVLIS, plasma separation process and gas centrifugation methods for SCNES. And also we discuss about the future subject to guide to shift to SCNES smoothly in future concerning with waste management in the intermediate period to the SCNES. Consequently, the SCNES can be the ultimate goal of the nuclear energy development and it is very important to make effort to development in the intermediate period to SCNES.

Magnetic system of the installation for plasma separation process

The magnetic system of the installation for plasma separation process (IPSP) by ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) heating method is presented. The requirements on the spatial uniformity and time stability of the magnetic field are realized by the high precision manufacture and mechanical adjustment of the solenoid coils. The influence of various inaccuracies of the magnetic field on the efficiency of the selective ICR heating are discussed. The design of the coils is considered.

Microwave diagnostics in electron cyclotron resonance plasma sources

The plasma source, which is of high importance in the optimization of the separation of the gadolinium isotopes by the plasma separation process, requires a precise knowledge of its physical characteristics. Thus, a diagnostic has been developed to estimate the microwave power inside the source. A microstrip antenna has been designed and developed in order to characterize the microwave field at 36 GHz frequency in the plasma source. The experimental results for different plasma regimes are presented. The measurements inside the plasma source show a maximum of microwave absorption for an argon pressure of 10−4 mbar with 93% absorption of the incident wave in the conditions of isotope separation.

Applications of the Trap with Rotating Plasma

Physical features and possible applications of the trap with rotating plasma are considered. Rotating plasma can be formed by the axis symmetric magnetic trap with radial electrical field. Experimental results on hot hydrogen rotating plasma carried out at the PSP-2 device are briefly described. Rotating plasma with heavy ions is formed by means of cathode sputtering by ion bombardment and further ionization of sputtered atoms by plasma inside the trap. The sources of multicomponent atomic fluxes and plasma flow based on the trap with rotating heavy ion plasma and their applications are considered and discussed. The fan intensive fluxes of accelerated atoms can be used for surface treatment. The another source creates the dense plasma flow leaving out along the magnetic field axis. Sources of such type can be used for space engines and plasma separation process devices by the plasma ICRH method.

Universal metal ion source

The metal ion source based on the magnetic trap with crossed fields (radial electrical and axial magnetic) is considered. This source formes plasma flow with magnetized heavy (metal) ions flowing along the longitudinal magnetic field. The self-supporting heavy ion discharge is existed in the source. The working substance is a cathode material which can be any conducting material. The operating principles and the features of the source are discussed. The plasma flows consisted of various metal ions (Cu, Ni, Ti) were experimentally obtained. The main parameters and the dependences of the titanium ion source are presented in detail. The typical parameters of this plasma flow are following: longitudinal velocity of 2–3×105 cm/s, ion transversal energy of 20–80 eV, average plasma density of 1012 cm−3; electron temperature of 40–60 eV; total ion current of plasma flow reach up to 3.6 A in pulse mode (discharge duration of 4–10 ms) of the source. The application of the source for plasma separation process is discussed.

Isotope separation methods for self-consistent nuclear energy system

It is known that for transmutation of fission products(FPs) in the concept of self-consistent nuclear energy system(SCNES) based on fast neutron reactor it is necessary to apply isotope separation of some FPs to keep neutron balance (to decrease parasitic capture of neutrons by stable isotopes). It is a question whether such FPs isotope separation can be feasible or not within amount of nuclear fission energy production. So it is necessary to consider isotopic content of FPs after fast reactor and to choose energetically appropriate isotope separation method for each radioactive FPs taking into account safe radioactivity level of FPs. In this paper we discuss about isotope separation method for SCNES. Isotopic composition of FPs was calculated using tables of fission yields from 239Pu fission. It isshown that concentrations of radioactive isotope in the main FPs to be isotopically separated are significant and vary from 2% in ruthenium up to 74% in iodine. We consider new isotope separation methods developed recently such as plasma separation process (PSP) based on selective ion cyclotron resonance heating and atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) as a possible candidates. It seems to be energetically profitable to combine various methods to achieve desired separation characteristics. Since the most of FPs have a high initial concentration of radioactive isotope, PSP method seems to be a good candidate for first stages of separation process. We consider the main parts of energy expenditure in one PSP module and its separation characteristics. Estimations of energy consumption in multistage isotope separation process of FPs give maximum value 100keV/fiss. using PSP only and 3MeV/fiss. using AVLIS only. We can significantly decrease these values using AVLIS after PSP when concentration of target isotope in separation cascade will become sufficiently low. We can affirm that energy consumption in isotope separation of FPs is less than 60 MeV of electricity per one fission in nuclear reactor.

Study of selective heating at ion cyclotron resonance for the plasma separation process

The plasma separation process by ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) is studied both theoretically and experimentally on two devices: the first one called ERIC (Ion Cyclotron Resonance Experiment) at Saclay (France) [P. Louvet, Proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Separation Phenomena in Liquids and Gases, Versailles, France, 1989, edited by P. Louvet, P. Noe, and Soubbaramayer (Centre d’Etudes Nucléaires de Saclay and Cité Scientifique Parcs et Technopoles, Ile de France Sud, France, 1989), Vol. 1, p. 5] and the other one named SIRENA at the Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia [A. I. Karchevskii et al., Plasma Phys. Rep. 19, 214 (1993)]. The radio frequency (RF) transversal magnetic field is measured by a magnetic probe both in plasma and vacuum and its Fourier spectrum versus the axial wave number kz is obtained. These results are in agreement with the electromagnetic (EM) field calculation model based on resolution of Maxwell equations by a time-harmonic scheme studied here. Various axial boundary conditions models used to compute the EM field are considered. The RF magnetic field is weakly influenced by the plasma while the electric field components are strongly disturbed due to space-charge effects. In the plasma the transversal electric field is enhanced and the kz spectrum is narrower than in vacuum. The calculation of the resonant isotope heating is made by the Runge–Kutta method. The influence of ion–ion collisions, inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field B0, and the RF transversal magnetic field component on the ion acceleration is examined. These results are successfully compared with experiments of a minor isotope 44Ca heating measurements, made with an energy analyzer.

Isotope separation program — present and future

The availability of a broad spectrum of highly enriched isotopes is vitally important for the fabrication of nuclear targets used in basic and applied research. The Isotope Separation Program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory prepares and distributes electromagnetically enriched stable isotopes on a worldwide basis to the scientific community. Topics discussed include: a brief review of the separation facility, a description of each production step, and future enrichment efforts. Current technology being applied in the electromagnetic isotope process to minimize stable isotope depletion rate and methods to achieve specific isotope requirements are emphasized. The availability of the Plasma Separation Process (PSP) equipment to augment the present stable isotope separation capability is addressed. The basic principles of the PSP are discussed, and its applicability to the isotopic enrichment of calutron feed-material and to the selective production of isotopes is examined.

Authors

Authors

Installation, checkout and operation of the largest, uniform field, superconducting solenoid magnet

TRW's experience in installing, checking out and operating a large superconducting magnet system is described. The magnet is a solenoid 8 meters long, with 1 meter clear bore and 2 Tesla uniform field. It is a central element in a facility designed to support development of the Plasma Separation Process, an advanced technique for uranium enrichment. The emphasis in this paper is on comparisons between expected versus actual behavior and on useful lessons learned. Subjects covered are: system installation and checkout; cooldown; influence of nonmagnetic materials on field uniformity; addition of a room temperature trim coil; and problems involving refrigeration capacity and oil contamination in the coldbox.

Some Problems of Membrane Plasma Separation

The membrane plasma filtration devices are the ones of the most atractive scientific subjects in the area of artificial organs. The possible application of this technique is very wide in the field of bioengineering and also play an important role in contemporary medicine. In order to evaluate this problem the simple mathematical model of capillary plasma filtration including the Blackshear-Forstrom theory was evaluated. The limitation of plasma outflow from the blood cells deposition is discussed. Based on the conclusions coming out from this analysis the controller of mean transmembrane pressure MTP was constructed and evaluated to standardize the conditions of the filtration process. The controll problems of membrane plasma separation in close loop circuit is discussed. The experimental mechanical and chemical data of the plasma separation in "ex vivo" conditions clinical evaluation are presented and analyzed from the sieving coefficient point of view. The method of controlling the membrane plasma separation process by means of filtration rate is suggested and compared with the driving criterion of mean transmembrane pressure from the filter sieving properties point of view.