Novel Methods of Isotopic Separation of Lithium 6

Nuclear applications often require specific isotopes of an element with the right properties. An example is lithium, which has two isotopes that play a crucial role in the nuclear industry. Lithium-7 is commonly employed as a pH controller in the cooling systems of nuclear reactors, while lithium-6 is vital for tritium production. However, the natural abundance of lithium-6 is only 7.5%, which is insufficient to achieve a high breeding rate of tritium in technically feasible breeder blanket designs. Therefore, increasing the proportion of lithium-6 in any breeder blanket concept presents a significant challenge that needs to be addressed. Prior to the operation of any commercial fusion power plant, it is necessary to establish a facility capable of producing several tons of enriched lithium-6 per year. Currently, no such facility exists. This study explores the different possibility for lithium isotope separation, and assess their viability.