Lithium Isotope Separation by Cryptand (2B, 2, 1) Polymer

Single stage separation factors α have been determined for 7Li and 7Li between lithium ions in methanol and complexed ions with a cryptand (2B, 2,1) polymer. The 6Li was concentrated in the cryptand. The separation factors were compared with the values of other chemical exchange systems. The maximum enrichment factor obtained was ε=0.047±0.002. The figure is one of the greatest in the chemical exchange reactions without valence change and almost 10 times larger than the values of ion exchangers. The variation in α depending on the chemical species was small in the non-aqueous system. High enrichment of lithium isotopes was expected to be achievable by means of the chromatographic application of the cryptand (2B, 2,1).