Recovery of Tritium from Molten Lithium Blanket

摘要

Electrochemical cells and methods are described that can be utilized for the recovery of tritium directly from a molten lithium metal solution without the need for a separation or concentration step prior to the electrolytic recovery process. The methods and systems utilize an on conducting electrolyte that conducts either lithium ion or tritide ion across the electrochemical cell.

主权项

1. A method for recovering tritium comprising:
conveying a solution comprising lithium tritide in a molten lithium metal to an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising an electrode and an electrolyte, the electrolyte being located so as to physically separate the electrode and the solution, the electrolyte being a lithium ion conducting electrolyte; establishing a voltage potential across the electrolyte between the solution and the electrode, the voltage potential being sufficient to ionize the lithium tritide to form lithium ions and tritium gas according to an ionization reaction, the lithium ions thus formed being conducted across the electrolyte to the electrode, the lithium ions being reduced to form lithium metal at the electrode; and collecting the tritium gas.