Boron Isotopes Enrichment via Continuous Annular Chromatography

Yıl 2016, Cilt: 1 Sayı: 1, 20 - 27, 24.03.2016

Gonca Sağlam

Öz

ABSTRACT

Boron has two stable isotopes namely ¹⁰B and ¹¹B isotopes. The large cross section of ¹⁰B isotope for thermal neutrons is used for reactor control in nuclear fission reactors. The thermal neutrons absorption cross sections of pure ¹⁰B and ¹¹B are 3837 and 0.005 barns respectively. In the literature, amongst others, batch elution chromatography techniques are reported for ¹⁰B isotope enrichment. This work focuses on continuous chromatographic ¹⁰B isotope separation system via continuous annular chromatography (CAC) where isotope enrichment from boric acid solution is studied. CAC is slurry packed with commercially available n-methyl glucamine functionalized boron-specific anion exchange resin (Diaion CRB03 - Mitsubishi). The nominated height of AISI 316 stainless steel pipe outer and inner cylinders of CAC is 200 cm, where annulus width is 3.60 cm. The liquid level above the top of the resin is monitored with an ultrasonic sensor. Its level is kept between the set values by air injection from the top of the column. For this purpose, the liquid level signals received from  the ultrasonic sensor is fed to a proportional controller unit so as to adjust the column head pressure by regulating air injection pressure and its flow rate..  Dilute aqueous nitric acid solutions were used as the eluent. Eluent ¹⁰B and ¹¹B isotope ratios are measured by ICP-MS spectrometer (Perkin Elmer, ELAN 9000). It is determined that depending on the operation parameters ¹⁰B isotope ratio can be increased over 27 % in a single pass mode operation of the present CAC apparatus.

Keywords: Boron Isotope Enrichment, Continuous Annular Chromatography, Ion Exchange Resin, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Anahtar Kelimeler

Boron isotope enrichment, continuous annular chromatography, ion exchange resin, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

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