Szilard‐Chalmers Reaction with Copper Chelates

Four copper compounds, bis‐acetylacetone‐Cu(II) (A), bis‐dibenzoylmethane‐Cu(II) (B), acetylacetoneethylenediimine‐Cu(II) (C) and benzoylacetoneethylenediimimine‐Cu(II) (D) have been prepared and used as the targets in carrying out Szilard‐Chalmers process to investigate the feasibility for the enrichment of Cu‐64. Both solvent extraction method and re‐precipition method were used to separate the enriched Cu‐64. It was observed that no enrichment was brought about in the operations with compounds (A) and (B) under the condition studied. With compounds (C) and (D) however, enrichment factors of the order of 200–400 and 70–90, respectivery, were observed.