Lithium isotopic analysis in depleted lithium salts

Lithium isotope separation processes require characterization of the isotopic compositions of the different output phases of the process. While considerable effort to develop isotope separation methods has been ongoing for decades, the analytical methods associated with these analyses are rarely provided. In this work three types of mass spectrometers (Q-ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS, TIMS) were tested for the ability to measure depleted lithium salts that are relevant materials for isotopic separations. Results indicate that, once stabilized, the Q-ICP-MS can provide equal precision for Li isotopic samples compared to TIMS or MC-ICP-MS. However, MC-ICP-MS consistently provides the highest precision for salts with natural isotopic abundances , whereas Q-ICP-MS provides equal or better precision in the depleted salts. These data demonstrate that Q-ICP-MS is an appropriate choice for analysis of depleted lithium salts, especially when rapid analyses are desired for near-online process monitoring.