The Theory of the Electrolytic Separation of Isotopes

(1) Gurney's treatment of overvoltage has been applied to the relative rates of discharge of two isotopes. As a first approximation it is found that the separation efficiency should be nearly independent of the electrode material and the current density. This agrees with the data at present available for the separation of the isotopes of hydrogen. (2) A more rigid treatment predicts small variations of the efficiency with the nature of the electrode and the current density, but is not at present able to predict these variations quantitatively. (3) The application of the theory to other isotopes is indicated, and a rough estimate given of the possibility of separating Li-6 and Li-7 by electrolysis.