Hydrogen isotope separation by plasma-chemical method

Abstract

Deuterium transfer (exchange) reaction as shown in HDO+H2=H2O+HD was studied as a case similar to the tritium transfer reaction as shown in DTO+D2=D2O+DT, the first step in tritium isotope separation of the tritiated heavy water DTO. The transfer reaction was plasma-chemically catalyzed by allowing a gas mixture such as H2O/D2, D2O/H2, H2O/HDO/H2 or H2O/D2O/HDO/H2 to flow through an atmospheric pressure discharge zone formed in a reaction chamber, the inner temperature of which was maintained just above 100°C. The plasma-chemical reactions diagnosed by infrared and emission spectroscopy revealed that the mixture underwent instantaneous deuterium transfer reactions as it passed the zone. The effectiveness of the method was demonstrated by high deuterium transfer rate, high separation factor of the transfer and a possibility of miniaturizing the separation facility. © 2002 Taylor & Francis Group, Ltd.