Isotopic Enrichment of Lithium-6 for Thermoluminescent Dosimeter Application

Authors

  • Juliana Ikebe Otomo Nuclear Energy Research Institute image/svg+xml
    • Daniela da Costa Gonçalves Santos Nuclear Energy Research Institute image/svg+xml
      • João Coutinho Ferreira Nuclear Energy Research Institute image/svg+xml
        • Vanderlei Sérgio Bergamaschi Nuclear Energy Research Institute image/svg+xml
          • José Oscar Vega Bustillos Nuclear Energy Research Institute image/svg+xml

            DOI:

            https://doi.org/10.15392/2319-0612.2026.2676

            Keywords:

            Lithium-6, thermoluminescent dosimeter, ion exchange, ICP-MS

            Abstract

            Extracted from the mineral spodumene, the element lithium naturally has two stable isotopes: 7Li (approximately 92.6%) and 6Li (approximately 7.4%). These isotopes have a variety of applications, from the pharmaceutical industry to electrochemistry. Due to its high efficiency and environmental benefits, global production of electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries reached 10.5 million vehicles in 2022. In the nuclear field, 7Li is widely used in reactors at the Angra dos Reis Nuclear Power Plant in Brazil as pH stabilizer on primary coolant. On the other hand, 6Li, with its high cross sections for absorption of thermal neutrons, is used in the thermonuclear field and for the production of tritium in fusion reactors. In addition, 6Li is used in thermoluminescent dosimeters due to its thermoluminescent properties, making it effective for measuring ionizing radiation. This work aims to present a new technology for lithium enrichment in Brazil, focusing on the isotopic separation of 6Li and 7Li for their respective industrial applications, seeking Brazilian independence regarding the acquisition of this enriched isotope. The ion exchange technique, involving isotope separation by equilibrium isotopic fractionation between two phases, is highlighted as a method to achieve this goal. pH and electrical conductivity were measured in the samples to correlate with Li concentration. The results of the isotopic analysis showed an enrichment of 10.12% for 6Li and 95.86% for 7Li.

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            Published

            2026-07-31

            Issue

            Vol. 14 No. 3 (2026)

            Section

            Original Articles

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            Copyright (c) 2026 Juliana Ikebe Otomo, Daniela da Costa Gonçalves Santos, João Coutinho Ferreira, Vanderlei Sérgio Bergamaschi, José Oscar Vega Bustillos

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