Studies on Isotope Separation Using Inorganic Ion-Exchanger in Fused Salt, (I)Separation of Potassium Isotopes by Zirconyl Phosphate in Fused Potassium Nitrate

摘要

An attempt to separate K isotope was made by ion exchange reaction at 370°C. As ion-exchanger, zirconyl phosphate was used in fused KNO3. The results obtained are as follows: (1) The first step of the reaction was an irreversible hydrogen-potassium exchange reaction accompanied by NO2 gas evolution, followed by an isotopic exchange reaction between 39K and 41K. (2) 39K was enriched in the zirconyl phosphate, with a simple process separation factor of 1.012 ±0.003. (3) The ion exchange capacity of zirconyl phosphate in fused salt was 8.7±0.1 meq/g.