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Title: Calcium isotope fractionation in ion-exchange chromatography

Journal Article · · Anal. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac50030a036· OSTI ID:6549169

Significant fractionation of the isotopes of calcium has been observed during elution through short ion-exchange columns packed with Dowex 50W-X8 resin. A double isotopic tracer was used to provide correction for instrumental fractionation effects. The absolute /sup 40/Ca//sup 44/Ca ratio is determined by this method to 0.05% and provides a measure of the fractionation of all Ca isotopes. It is found that the lighter isotopes are preferentially retained by the resin, with variations in /sup 40/Ca//sup 44/Ca between the first and last fractions of up to 1.1%. An estimate of the separation factor between batch solute and resin gives epsilon = 2.1 x 10/sup -4/. Details of the chemical or physical mechanisms causing isotope fractionation of Li, Na, Ca, and other elements during ion-exchange chromatography are not yet clear.

OSTI ID:
6549169
Journal Information:
Anal. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 50:8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English