Enrichment of U-232 by U(IV)-U(VI) redox ion exchange chromatography

The isotopic enrichment of U-232 and U-234 against U-238 in the U(IV)-U(VI) exchange process has been studied by anion exchange chromatography. The enrichment of U-232 in the uranium adsorption band was monitored by the activity ratios measured by alpha spectrometry and the isotopic abundances of U-234 were determined by mass spectrometry. The results have shown that the isotopic enrichment is proportional to the mass difference among isotopes of U-232, U-234 and U-238. The anomalous isotope effect previously observed for U-235 was not observed for U-232. The ideal separation coefficient, epsilon(o) (= S-1), between two isotopes of U-232 and U-238 at the ideal distribution state in the U(IV)-U(VI) exchange system has been inferred as 2.2 x 10(-3) at 308 K.