Electromigration separation of lithium isotopes: The multiple roles of crown ethers

Wang, Ciming; Zhang, Pengrui; Ju, Huiqun; Xue, Zixuan; Zhou, Xiaolong; Mao, Lianjing; Shao, Fei; Zou, Xian‐Wu; Jing, Yan; Jia, Yongzhong; Sun, Jinhe

doi:10.1016/j.cplett.2021.139265

Cited by 13 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…There are two stable isotopes of lithium in nature, 6 Li and 7 Li, which have natural abundances of about 7.5% and 92.5%. 1,2 The two lithium isotopes have completely different nuclear reactivity 3 and are essential to nuclear industry applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4 7 Li is used as an acid-base moderator in nuclear reactors to control the rate of nuclear fission reactions. However, 7 Li with an abundance change to 99.99% can only be used as an acidbase moderator in pressurized water reactors (PWRs), whereas higher 7 Li abundances are required in fusion reactors. [5][6][7] The separation process is further complicated because 7 Li and 6 Li are chemically similar.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, 7 Li with an abundance change to 99.99% can only be used as an acidbase moderator in pressurized water reactors (PWRs), whereas higher 7 Li abundances are required in fusion reactors. [5][6][7] The separation process is further complicated because 7 Li and 6 Li are chemically similar. Currently, lithium amalgamation is the only industrialized method.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The enrichment of ⁷Li by extraction with a Sudan I-Ionic liquid system

Li,

Sun,

Jia

et al. 2024

New J. Chem.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The enrichment of ⁷Li by extraction with a Sudan I-Ionic liquid system

Li,

Sun,

Jia

et al. 2024

New J. Chem.

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“…The interactions between cations, crown ethers, and solvents also play a role on the selectivity of the crown ethers. Crown ether incorporated polymers have been used as adsorbents in applications such as capillary chromatography, chemical sensor devices, ion transport membranes, phasetransfer catalysis, and ion-selective electrode (Stergiou et al, 2021;Yang et al, 2021;Jackson et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2022;Hu et al, 2022). Particularly, 18-crown-6 (18C6) and DB18C6 show the strongest binding affinity toward potassium cation (K + ) among alkali metal cations, although some reports pointed out that K + bound tightly to all crown ethers (12-crown-4 to 24-crown-8) regardless of the ring size (Pedersen, 1967;Gokel et al, 1983;Choi et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dibenzo-18-Crown-6/Polycaprolactone Composite Nanofibers for Selective Adsorption of Cations

ALTAN

2023

UUJFE

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Electrospun nanofibers are attractive alternatives to traditional adsorbents due to their high surface-to-volume ratio, porosity, and loading capacity. Functionalization of nanofibers with macrocycles can contribute to further enhancement in selective adsorption of ions. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were functionalized with a crown ether, namely dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6), and the potential of the resultant electrospun PCL/DB18C6 nanofibers for selective ion adsorption, particularly the selective recovery for K+, was investigated. The morphology, chemical structure and thermal properties of PCL/DB18C6 nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The average diameter of PCL/DB18C6 nanofibers was 529±196 nm. Single-ion adsorption experiments indicated that the adsorption capacity for K+ ion was 137 mg·g−1 and the selectivity sequence was found as K+>Ca2+>Na+. The adsorption selectivity coefficients of K+/Ca2+ and K+/Na+ were calculated respectively as 1.37 and 4.28 for single ion experiments and as 1.13 and 5.11 for mixed ion adsorptions which illustrate that the difference between the adsorption capacities of K+ and Ca2+ decreased in mixed ion adsorption experiments. Overall results demonstrate that the electrospun PCL/DB18C6 nanofibers are amenable for use as polymer adsorbents for the selective ion recovery.

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“…The first two were considered the most likely candidates to be used to produce the necessary quantities of 6 Li. More recently, other techniques of lithium isotopic separation have been reviewed, including liquid exchange using crown ethers, , electromigration, − electrodialysis, electrochemical separation in gel electrolyte, and ionic liquids. , …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the Substrate and the Morphology on Electrochemical Separation of Lithium Isotopes: Insights from DFT

Bellora,

Cabello,

Barral

et al. 2023

J. Phys. Chem. C

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The electrochemical separation of lithium isotopes has been revisited during the last years due to their applications in different aspects of nuclear technology, from the use of 7 Li in the chemical treatment of pressurized water reactors to the production of tritium from 6 Li for fusion nuclear plants. However, little is still known about the role played by each of the physicochemical variables in the separation factor, such as the applied overpotential, the electrolytes, or the materials used as electrodes. Particularly, a large isotope fractionation factor has been previously reported using planar nickel electrodes at very low overpotentials. In this work, we analyze how the electrode material (nickel or gold) and the morphology of the deposited lithium could affect the isotopic separation by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations. We consider the isotopic equilibrium exchange reaction between two phases: the strongly solvated lithium in solution and the adsorbed lithium structure onto the metallic substrates. The results suggest that there is a strong correlation between the strength of the deposited lithium bonds and the obtained fractionation. For the considered phases in equilibrium, the morphology with fewer and weaker lithium bonds could greatly improve the electrochemical isotope separation. Furthermore, we find that the bonding between lithium and the nickel surface is detrimental toward the enrichment. The calculations of lithium deposited onto gold indicate weaker bonds and, consequently, on average a larger fractionation factor R. These findings could guide the development of better electrochemical processes for lithium isotope separation, by clarifying not only the role of the lithium morphology, but also its relationship with the cathode material. DFT simulations have proven to be a useful tool to search for new materials that promote electrochemical isotopic separation.

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Electromigration separation of lithium isotopes: The multiple roles of crown ethers

Cited by 13 publications

References 39 publications

The enrichment of ⁷Li by extraction with a Sudan I-Ionic liquid system

The enrichment of ⁷Li by extraction with a Sudan I-Ionic liquid system

Dibenzo-18-Crown-6/Polycaprolactone Composite Nanofibers for Selective Adsorption of Cations

Effect of the Substrate and the Morphology on Electrochemical Separation of Lithium Isotopes: Insights from DFT

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Electromigration separation of lithium isotopes: The multiple roles of crown ethers

Cited by 13 publications

References 39 publications

The enrichment of 7Li by extraction with a Sudan I-Ionic liquid system

The enrichment of 7Li by extraction with a Sudan I-Ionic liquid system

Dibenzo-18-Crown-6/Polycaprolactone Composite Nanofibers for Selective Adsorption of Cations

Effect of the Substrate and the Morphology on Electrochemical Separation of Lithium Isotopes: Insights from DFT

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The enrichment of ⁷Li by extraction with a Sudan I-Ionic liquid system

The enrichment of ⁷Li by extraction with a Sudan I-Ionic liquid system