CIESC Journal ›› 2021, Vol. 72 ›› Issue (6): 3215-3227.DOI: 10.11949/0438-1157.20201813

• Reviews and monographs • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research progress on the theory and new technology for separation of lithium isotopes by chemical exchange

CUI Li1(),FAN Yuheng1,LI Shasha1,BAI Ruibing2,GUO Yanxia1,CHENG Fangqin1()   

  1. 1.Institute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization Technology of Coal Waste Resources, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
    2.Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Sino Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2020-12-13 Revised:2021-02-09 Online:2021-06-05 Published:2021-06-05
  • Contact: CHENG Fangqin

化学交换法分离锂同位素的理论及新技术研究进展

崔莉1(),樊宇亨1,李莎莎1,白瑞兵2,郭彦霞1,程芳琴1()   

  1. 1.山西大学资源与环境工程研究所,国家环境保护煤炭废弃物资源化高效利用重点实验室,山西 太原 030006
    2.中国科学院过程工程研究所,中国科学院大学中丹学院,北京 100049
  • 通讯作者: 程芳琴
  • 作者简介:崔莉(1985—),女,博士,副教授, cuili.123@163.com
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金项目(21706257)

Abstract:

The development of nuclear energy is an important measure for China's sustainable development. Lithium is an important energy strategy metal. The separation of lithium isotopes (6Li, 7Li) is a key technical problem that must be solved in nuclear energy development. It has received extensive attention from international and domestic scientists. It is a big challenge for the separation of lithium isotopes because of the similar extra-nucleus electronic structure of 6Li and 7Li. This paper reviews briefly the progress of 6Li/7Li separation by chemical exchange since the 1960s. The theoretical research as well as the new materials and medias developed for 6Li/7Li separation in the past five years are especially highlighted. Crown ether and its derivatives are the main chemical exchangers, but they have the drawback of poor binding performance with Li+, thereby low distribution coefficients of Li+. In view of this, the current researches on the enhancement of Li+ binding with crown ethers are summarized. The paper is expected to provide guidance for the development of new materials and systems for 6Li/7Li separation.

Key words: chemical exchange, lithium isotope, Urey model, crown ether, ion pair

摘要:

发展核能是我国可持续发展的重要举措,锂作为重要的能源战略金属,锂同位素(6Li、7Li)分离是核能开发必须解决的关键技术难题,受到国际及国内科学家的广泛关注。6Li、7Li具有完全相同的电子结构,两者具有几乎相同的化学性质,分离难度极大。本文简要回顾了20世纪60年代以来化学交换法分离锂同位素取得的进展,重点综述了同位素分离的理论研究以及近五年来锂同位素分离的新材料、新介质。针对目前冠醚在分离锂同位素过程中存在的冠醚分子易流失、Li+的分配系数低等问题对现有的研究和报道进行了总结,有望为锂同位素分离新材料和新体系的开发提供指导。

关键词: 化学交换法, 锂同位素, Urey模型, 冠醚, 离子对

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