Separation of lithium and magnesium isotopes by hydrous manganese(IV) oxide

Lithium and magnesium isotopes were separated by chemical ion exchange using hydrous manganese(IV) oxide and elution chromatography. The capacity of manganese(IV) oxide was 0.5 meq/g. The glass ion exchange column used was 35 cm long with an inner diameter of 0.2 cm, and 2.0M CH₃COONH₄ solution served as eluent. The single stage separation factor was determined from the elution curves and isotopic assays according to the method of Glueckauf. The separation factor of ⁶Li⁺-⁷Li⁺ was 1.022±0.002, those of ²⁴Mg²⁺-²⁵Mg²⁺, ²⁴Mg²⁺-²⁶Mg²⁺, and ²⁵Mg²⁺-²⁶Mg²⁺ were 1.012±0.001, 1.021±0.002, and 1.011±0.001, respectively.