APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A SUBLIMED MATERIAL

Apparatus for the solidification by desublimation of a sublimed gaseous substance and the subsequent trapping and liquidation of the desublimed substance is described. The apparatus comprises: means for the supply of a coolant fluid to a process vessel means; means for the supply of the sublimed substance to the vessel; means for enabling the direct contact and mixing of the coolant fluid with the sublimed substance so as to reduce the temperature of the sublimed substance to below a dewpoint thereof; the vessel means including heating means at least about the tank portion; valve means to enable the vessel means to be sealed to allow a raised pressure to be established in the vessel; conduit means having a first end at the position adjacent a lower end of the tank portion such as to be immersed in liquid resulting from the liquefaction of the desublimed substance, and a second end remote from the first end outside the vessel and connected to means to receive the liquefied substance; and the conduit means having means to permit the controlled expulsion of the liquefied substance.