EXTRACTIVE SEPARATION OF LITHIUM ISOTOPES BY 4-TERT-BUTYLBENZO-15-CROWN-5

Based on the principle of an empirical equation, an extractive process has been developed for separating isotopes of lithium. A 2.5M aqueous solution of lithium perchlorate was contacted with twice its volume o f 1.0M solution of 4-tert-butylbenzo-15-crown-5 in nitrobenzene at 25- degrees-C to obtain a lithium isotope separation factor of 1.036 and a percent extaction of lithium reaching 45%. With 13 stages of extracti on, the concentration of lithium perchlorate in the raffinate was redu ced from 2.5M to 2.5x10(-4)M to meet the needs of recycling cascade. W ith 4 stages of scrubbing by use of identical volumes of water at 60-d egrees-C, the overall recovery of lithium was found to be >99%.