  A general method of separating isotopes by centrifuging dissolved chemical
compounds in a liquid solution is introduced. This technique can be applied to
almost all elements and leads to large separation factors. The method has been
demonstrated in several isotopic systems including Ca, Mo, O, and Li with
single-stage selectivities of 1.046-1.067 per unit mass difference (e.g., 1.434
in 40Ca/48Ca, 1.134 in 16O/18O), which are beyond the capabilities of various
conventional methods of isotope enrichment. Equations are derived to model the
process and the results agree with those of the experiments. The scalability of
the technique has been demonstrated by performing a three-stage enrichment of
48Ca, and the scalability is more broadly supported through analogies to the
gas centrifuge, whereby countercurrent centrifugation can further multiply the
separation factor by 5-10 times per stage in a continuous process. Optimal
centrifuge conditions and solutions can achieve both high-throughput and highly
efficient isotope separation.
