Li isotopes concentration flux investigation under conditions of diffusion and electric field assisted migration

Due to the variety of applications of the isotopes in science and engineering as well as their strategic importance in national security, efficient and purity production is essential. It is important to note that the mixture of the two isotopes Li-6 and Li-7 have a natural abundances of similar to 7.5% and 92.5%, respectively. Li-7 in its hydroxide form is often utilized in pressurized water reactors of the power plant. One possibility of Li-7 enrichment can be the application of diffusion and electric field assisted separation in liquids or gels. In this research, a preliminary study has been conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics simulation package, in order to simulate the concentration gradients of two ions namely Li-7(+) and Li-6(+). In the model, both diffusion and migration conditions were implemented and associated effects of the isotope separation were monitored. Apart from time-dependent concentrations of the different isotopes (their respective ions), the contour maps were also presented, including the zone of maximum efficiency for different time as well as initial concentration. The results from the model can be utilized for designing actual isotope separation setup and appropriate timing for sample collection. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.