Method for separating heavy isotopes of hydrogen from water

摘要

Isotope water molecules, e.g., HTO and T2O, are separated from contaminated water by conveying the contaminated water through a separation chamber containing a separation material formed of an inorganic substrate with hydration sites having multiple associated waters of hydration, whereby the waters of hydration are preferentially replaced by the isotope water molecules. The discharged water, which is lower in concentration of isotope water molecules due to the preferential replacement, can be conveyed through a second separation chamber containing additional separation material to remove additional isotope water molecules. Following saturation, the separation material is heated to separate the isotope water molecules. The relatively concentrated water driven off by heating is stored or otherwise disposed of, and the separation material is reused.