Published March 1979 | Version v1
Journal article

Enrichment of the lithium isotopes by countercurrent electromigration of molten lithium nitrate

  • 1. Tokyo Inst. of Tech. (Japan)

Description

By countercurrent electromigration of molten LiNO3, 6Li and 7Li have been enriched individually; an electromigration cell of a new type has been devised, in which molten NH4NO3 is used in a large cathode compartment. This makes it possible to enrich 6Li highly around the region between the two salts, that is, LiNO3 and NH4NO3, although no successful attempt had been reported for enriching 6Li in molten LiNO3. It is found by analysing the isotopic distribution in separation tubes that 6Li and 7Li have been enriched from their approximately natural abundance to 90.0% and 99.986%, respectively, in the most enriched fractions. Enrichment of 7Li by the countercurrent electromigration is simulated with parameters experimentally obtained. The electric power needed for production of 99.99% 7Li with the present method is estimated. (author)

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Asahi Garasu Kogyo Gijutsu Shoreikai Kenkyu Hokoku
Journal Volume
32
Series
Asahi Garasu Kogyo Gijutsu Shoreikai Kenkyu Hokoku.
Journal Page Range
31-49
ISSN
0365-2599