Abstract

Solvent extraction is a potential isotope separation method, but for heavy elements with small isotopic mass differences only small separation factors are observed. We have shown a dramatic enhancement in separation factor by exposing solvent extraction systems consisting of zirconium complexes distributed between organic and aqueous solvent phases to optical excitation in the visible and near UV. The optical effect is thought to originate in the interaction of the nuclear magnetic moment μ of ⁹¹Zr with the excited electronic state of the complex.

© 1986 Optical Society of America