Effect of flow rate on height equivalent to a theoretical plate for lithium isotope separation with displacement chromatography

Abstract

A series of experiments of Li isotope separation with displacement chromatography using a highly porous resin were performed under several flow rates from 0.1 to 20 cm3/min. The flow rates were equivalent to a speed of a moving boundary of 0.0012 to 0.26cm/s. In evaluating Height Equivalent to a Theoretical Plate, HETP, as well as separation factor which indicate separative performance of chromatographic system, we developed a new relationship between HETP and a profile of 6Li mole fraction in the effluent with a mathematical model taking account of a mixing in a free space at the column outlet and in the fractionated samples. The values of separation factor and HETP of each experiment were simultaneously determined by the developed relation. The obtained values of the separation factor agreed with those evaluated by the frontal analysis method within the range of the experimental error. The obtained value of HETP increased with the flow rate in the range of the present experiments. It was suggested that diffusion of Li ion in particles as well as convective mixing of the solution played a significant role on determination of HETP. © 1998 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.