Separation of magnesium isotopes by a 2'-aminomethyl-18-crown-6 bonded Merrifield peptide resin

Separation of magnesium isotopes was investigated by chemical ion exchangewith synthesized 2'-aminomethyl-18-crown-6 (AM18C6) bonded Merrifieldpeptide resin using an elution chromatographic technique. The capacity ofthe novel crown ion exchanger was found to be 2.3 meq/g dry resin. The heavierisotopes of magnesium were enriched in the solution phase, while the lighterisotopes were enriched in the resin phase. The single stage separation factorwas determined according to the method of GLUECKAUF from the elution curveand isotopic assays. The separation factors of ²⁴Mg–²⁵ Mg, ²⁵ Mg–²⁶ Mg, and ²⁴ Mg–²⁶ Mg isotope pair fractionations were 1.012, 1.005, and 1.022, respectively.