High enrichment of 15N by chromatographic chemical process

Nitrogen isotope enrichment experiments were conducted to obtain highly enriched 15N by ion-exchange process. 15NH4Cl (15N = 80%) as feeding materials were used to perform the chromatographic operation with two different flow rates and column diameters. Both separation coefficient (ɛ) and height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) have same values in two run experiments. The value of HETP was more enlarged when high enrichment of 15N was obtained in comparison with that of low enrichment. 99.756% 15N and 13.63 g 15N whose percentage was over 99.0% were successfully achieved by 25 m chromatographic migration with the flow rate and column diameter at 50 cm3/mL, 3.0 cm, respectively. High flow rate and large column diameter have advantages to the enrichment of 15N by ion exchange process.