LOW-ENERGY ELECTROCHEMICAL SEPARATION OF ISOTOPES

摘要

The invention relates to isotope separation methods, and methods for separating isotopes with low energy consumption, demonstrated using hydrogen isotopes. To this end, an isotope transfer electrochemical cell is provided, which comprises an anode plate and a cathode plate; current carrier plates with flow channels or mesh layers or porous material; a proton exchange membrane or solid polymer electrolyte membrane; and gas diffusion layers positioned on either side of the proton exchange membrane which together with the proton exchange membrane forms a membrane electrode assembly; and a housing containing the anode and cathode plates in operable arrangement with the membrane electrode assembly, and defining a hydrogen feed inlet on the anode, a product outlet on the cathode, an outlet for excess hydrogen on the anode, and internal flow paths for transfer of gases and fluids on either side of the membrane electrode assembly. Also described are methods for enriching or depleting the isotope present in the hydrogen gas/vapour feed e.g. for tritium removal, tritium enrichment and deuterium enrichment, by arranging a series of cells in a cascaded configuration.