Behavior of Na and K in the extraction process of lithium isotope separation

Abstract

The extraction behavior of Na and K during lithium isotope separation using benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) in chloroform as the extractant was investigated. It was found that potassium was extracted better than sodium and lithium, the metal: B15C5 ratio in the extracted compound was 1: 1 for all metals. It was shown that in the extraction systems with a LiCl concentration higher than 5 mol L-1, B15C5 was noticeably transferred into aqueous solutions, while concentrated LiCl solutions had a salting-out effect with respect to Na and K.