Comparison of ion exchange methods for lithium-7 isotopic enrichment for application in PWR reactors

Autores/as

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/2319-0612.2024.2640

Palabras clave:

isotopic enrichment, ion exchange, displacement chromatography, isotopic analysis

Resumen

7Li in the form of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH·H₂O), remains liquid over a wide temperature range (180 to 1340ºC), making it an excellent pH controller on reactor coolant in Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). In contrast, 6Li is a strong neutron absorber and unsuitable for PWRs, whereas 7Li has a low neutron cross-section, making it ideal for reactor use. Enriching 7Li to over 99.95% is essential but complex. The Colex method, involving mercury, was used for enrichment but was banned in the USA due to environmental concerns. Currently, Russia and China are the primary sources of enriched 7Li. A mercury-free procedure to obtain this isotope is necessary, ion exchange techniques, including frontal analysis, elution, and displacement chromatography, offer alternative enrichment methods. This study evaluates these techniques to achieve the required 7Li enrichment for PWR applications. Preliminary results showed an abundance of 7Li at 95.65% after displacement of 830 cm.

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Referencias

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Publicado

2025-05-07

Número

Vol. 12 Núm. 4B (Suppl.) (2024): ENFIR / INAC 2024

Sección

Articles

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Licencia

Derechos de autor 2025 Juliana Ikebe Otomo, Daniela da Costa Gonçalves Santos, João Coutinho Ferreira, Vanderlei Sérgio Bergamaschi, José Oscar Vega Bustillos

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Cómo citar

Comparison of ion exchange methods for lithium-7 isotopic enrichment for application in PWR reactors. Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences (BJRS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, v. 12, n. 4B (Suppl.), p. e2640, 2025. DOI: 10.15392/2319-0612.2024.2640. Disponível em: https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2640. Acesso em: 17 jul. 2025.