Numerical Analyses of Isotopic Concentration Profiles in Displacement Chromatography for Lithium Isotope Separation

Abstract

Axial concentration profiles in a displacement chromatographic column for Li isotope separation were numerically calculated. A one-dimensional, convection-diffusion equation was solved by applying a finite difference method with taking account of isotope exchange reaction between solution and resin phases.

To obtain a concentration profile corresponding to experimental results of isotope separation, numerical analysis of the concentration profile in the effluent was performed by taking account of mixing effects of Li isotopes in a free space at the column outlet and in a sampled fraction. The numerical results were compared with those of experiments performed under the flow rates from 0.1 to 20cm³/min, and agreed well with experimentally obtained profiles of isotopic concentration as well as concentration of Li ion within the range of the flow rates.

KEYWORDS:

• concentration profile
• numerical solutions
• numerical analysis
• lithium 6
• displacement chromatography
• isotope separation
• mixing effects
• flow rates
• comparative evaluations