Enrichment of zinc isotopes by a liquid membrane system using a crown ether

Journal Article · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1998 · Separation Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/01496399808545003· OSTI ID:634693

Nishizawa, Kazushige; Miki, Takahito; Satoyama, Tomonori; Fujii, Toshiyuki; Yamamoto, Tadashi ^[1]; Nomura, Masao ^[2]

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1. Osaka Univ. (Japan). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
2. Tokyo Inst. of Tech. (Japan). Research Lab. for Nuclear Reactors

A liquid membrane system to enrich zinc isotope was investigated. The liquid membrane was composed of a solution of dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 in chloroform. Zinc chloride dissolved in diluted hydrochloric acid was used as a feed phase. A receiving phase was made of a 0.001 M HCl solution. The zinc isotopes were enriched (1) at the interface of the liquid-membrane/feed-phase and (2) at that of the liquid-membrane/receiving-phase. The separation factor attained in the system was {alpha} = 1.049 for the separation of {sup 64}Zn and {sup 66}Zn. The enrichment factor of {sup 66}Zn relative to {sup 67}Zn was {epsilon} = {minus}0.053, which is in the inverse direction of enrichment by a liquid-liquid extraction. The enrichment factor of {sup 64}Zn to {sup 66}Zn showed a different value from that of {sup 66}Zn to {sup 68}Zn, regardless of their similar mass difference. The isotope effects in the Zn-crown complex were dominated by the field shift of electronic energy in the isotope atom. This is in contrast to the Bigeleisen-Mayer approximation for a chemical exchange reaction. Trace amounts of zinc are injected into the primary coolant of boiling water reactors in order to suppress {sup 60}Co build-up. The use of {sup 64}Zn-depleted zinc suppresses the production of {sup 65}Zn within the reactor. Zinc isotopes are also useful precursors of radiopharmaceuticals.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 634693
• Journal Information: Separation Science and Technology, Journal Name: Separation Science and Technology Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 33; ISSN 0149-6395; ISSN SSTEDS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
40 CHEMISTRY
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BWR TYPE REACTORS
COBALT 60
CROWN ETHERS
ISOTOPE EFFECTS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
MITIGATION
PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES
ZINC 64
ZINC 66