High Enrichment of Li-6 in Molten Nitrates by the Klemm Method

作者：Okada Isao^*; Nomura Masao; Haibara Teruo

来源：Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung Section A-A Journal of Physical Sciences, 2013, 68(1-2): 21-38.

DOI：10.5560/ZNA.2012-0104

• Enrichment of Li-6
• Molten LiNO3
• The Klemm Method
• The Chemla Effect
• The Lunden Anomaly

The Klemm method of isotopic enrichment (countercurrent electromigration of molten salts) and many of its implications are reviewed and discussed. On the basis of this principle, a small amount of Li-6 was enriched in some experiments from its original abundance, 7.6%, to 94.9% at about 300 degrees C. The variation of the conditions led to a modified setup where, by disposing a small amount of NaNO3 between the catholyte (NH4NO3) and the zone of LiNO3, the frontal part, where Li-6 is to be enriched, could be kept stable under high current density for more than one month without any problem of corrosion. The reasons and implications of this new step are discussed, underlining the up-to-dateness of Klemm%26apos;s experiment.