Efficiency of the Electrolytic Separation of Potassium Isotopes

Abstract

The electrolytic separation coefficient, α, has been determined for the potassium isotope separation in the electrolysis of aqueous solutions of potassium chloride at a flowing mercury cathode. Suspension of purified potassium chloride crystals in a liquid mixture of bromoform, n-pentanol, and n-hexanol served as the analytical procedure in determining the isotopic composition of samples. Densities of the liquid suspension mixture as a function of temperature were independently determined. The electrolytic separation factor for the potassium isotopes was found to be 1.0054±0.0005 for the temperature range of 15°—50°C, and, within the limits of error, was independent of temperature, of the fraction electrolyzed, of the concentration of the electrolytic solution, of the current density, and of the amount of back reaction at the cathode. An empirical relation between the electrolytic separation factors of elements thus far investigated and their atomic weights is presented.