Fundamental Studies on the Ion-Exchange Separation of Boron Isotopes

Abstract The single-stage separation factors for boron isotopes between an ion-exchange resin and an external solution were determined, using an ion-exchange breakthrough operation. The lighter isotope boron-10 was considerably enriched in the anion-exchange resin phase. The separation factor was very much influenced by the boric acid concentration in the external solution, but not as much influenced by the kind of the anion exchange resin used and operation temperature. The separation factor increased with a decrease in the boric acid concentration of external solution from 1.008 (0.501 mol/l) to 1.016 (0.010 mol/l). The value of the separation factors obtained experimentally were compared with those estimated on the basis of the theory of the two-phase distribution of isotopes.