Dependencies of pH and Current Density on the Isotope Effect Occured by the Electromigration of Uranyl Ions in a Cation Exchange Membrane

Abstract

It has been shown experimentally that in isotope separation by means of electromigration the use of a cation exchange membrane as the migration medium can lead to improved separation for uranium isotopes. A modified apparatus and improved technique were found to be practicable in operation, giving an appreciable isotope effect under moderate conditions. Some preliminary results are also reported for the pH dependence and the current density dependence of the isotope effects; these are discussed in terms of the hydrolysis of uranyl ions.