Influence of chelating agents in eluent on the separation factor of lithium isotopes

The influence of chelating agents on the separation factor, , of lithium isotopes separation was studied by ion exchange elution chromatography. Eluents contained the chelating agent having different number of coordination sites. The chelating agents used in eluent were Na-glycine (Na–Gly), 2Na-iminodiacetic acid (2Na-IDA), 3Na-nitrilotriacetic acid (3Na-NTA), and 4Na-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (4Na-EDTA). The ion exchanger was Dowex 50W-X8, sulfonic acid type, sodium form. As a result,⁶Li was enriched in resin phase, and⁷Li was in solution phase. The separation factor, , was gradually increased with increasing number of coordination site (=1.0022–1.0038) at the same distribution coefficient and with increasing distribution coefficients (=1.0017–1.0026) at the same concentration of chelating agents.