Enrichment of Stable Isotopes, (I)

Abstract

The separation factor (α) of Li-isotopes was determined by subjecting LiOH, Li-acetate, Li-citrate and Li-H.E.D.T.A. of various concentrations to ion exchange reactions with sulfonated polystyrene-D.V.B. copolymers of various degrees of cross-linking. With the view to accurate determination of α by enlarging the scale of experiment, frontal analysis in the column operation was performed with exchange columns containing Dowex 50 W, X-12 and 16, or else Diaion SK, X-16 (X meaning crosslinkage of the exchanger). Experimental results revealed the αvalues to be always higher with Li-acetate than with Li-hydroxide as eluant. Also Li-citrate eluants gave values somewhat lower than with Li-acetate system. Exchange systems with Dowex 50 W, X-12 and 16, with various concentrations of Li-acetate, yielded single stage isotopic separation factors ranging from 1.0025 to 1.0036. The corresponding value was 1.0027 for the system involving Dowex 50 W, X-16, 20~50 mesh and 0.109 M solution of dilithium salt of N′- 2-(hydro...