Isotopic assay of boron-10 in boron trifluoride by molecular spectroscopic method

Abstract

A molecular spectroscopic method has been developed to estimate the¹⁰B concentration in BF₃. This method makes use of the isotopic displacements in the R₁ heads of the BO₂ band at 5457Å. The emission spectrum of the BO₂ radical was obtained in a microwave oscillator discharge through BF₃ and an excess of argon, having oxygen as trace impurity. The intensities of the R₁ heads were measured for different standards containing 20 to 90 per cent. of ¹⁰B in BF₃. The standard deviation varies from 1.7 to 2.7 in the above concentration range.