Separation Method of Boron Isotope Using Continuous Ion Exchange Chromatography

摘要

The present invention provides boron-10 having a high neutron capture cross-sectional area from boron-11 (B ¹¹ ) isotope from a mixture of boron isotopes in boric acid solution using weakly basic ion exchange resin and water eluent in continuous cyclic chromatography. (B ¹⁰ ) A method and apparatus for the continuous and selective separation of isotopes. The present invention comprises the steps of (A) preparing an aqueous boric acid feed solution comprising a mixture of boron isotopes; (B) the boric acid feed liquid at a location on an ion exchange column of continuous cyclic chromatography having a length and width sufficient to divide the isotopes of boron, in particular boron-10 and boron-11 isotopes into separate product fractions. Filling with an ion exchange resin, preferably a weakly basic anion exchange resin, contained in the column; (C) an aqueous eluent, preferably water, is fed to the ion exchange resin of the column at a position on the column of the continuous cyclic chromatography to elute the boric acid feed along the length of the column of the continuous cyclic chromatography and feed Isolating the isotopes; (D) The boric acid feed and eluent solutions are diffused through the ion exchange resin while continuously rotating the continuous cyclic chromatography during steps (B) and (C), so that separate product fractions reduce the length of the column. Separating the boron isotopes in the feed into separate product fractions so that they are disposed longitudinally and at different angles from the feed location; (E) collecting the boron-10 enriched isotope product fraction and the boron-10 reduced isotope fraction, respectively, arranged at separate different angles on the continuous cyclic chromatography; (F) reducing the volume of each boron isotope product to form a concentrated boron isotope fraction and recovering the aqueous eluent therefrom; (G) A continuous steady state process for separating boron isotopes in aqueous boric acid solution, comprising the step of recycling the aqueous eluent to reuse during step (C). The boric acid-rich boric acid product fraction can be transported to a nuclear power plant and dissolved in the nuclear plant's control fluid system as a poison shim. Product fractions with reduced boron-10 can be recovered by continuous cyclic chromatography for further processing. Such eluents can be recycled to reduce liquid waste.