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Experimental and theoretical investigations of lithium isotopes separation using 10-hydroxybenzoquinoline

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Abstract

Effective separation of lithium isotopes (6Li and 7Li) is a significant challenge in developing clean nuclear energy. In this work, 7Li was separated and enriched by 10-hydroxybenzoquinoline using flotation complexation extraction under alkaline conditions. In addition, the thermodynamic process of lithium isotope separation was discussed and the separation mechanism was explained by theoretical calculation according to density functional theory. Finally, the conditions of the Li+ stripping process were investigated. The results showed that the single-stage separation factor was 1.023 ± 0.001, and the abundance of 7Li reached 92.72%. The stripping ratio of lithium reached 98% by stripping five times using pure water.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province (2021-ZJ-919).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008, China

    Zhanqin Wang, Yongzhong Jia, Bing Liu, MiXiang Qi, Yan Jing & Ying Yao

  2. Qinghai Engineering and Technology Research Center of Comprehensive Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Xining, 810008, China

    Zhanqin Wang, Yongzhong Jia, Bing Liu, MiXiang Qi, Yan Jing & Ying Yao

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhanqin Wang & Bing Liu

  4. Innovation Academy for Green Manufacture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    MiXiang Qi

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  1. Zhanqin Wang
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Wang, Z., Jia, Y., Liu, B. et al. Experimental and theoretical investigations of lithium isotopes separation using 10-hydroxybenzoquinoline. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 3155–3165 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08378-y

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