APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING OXIDES OF HEAVY ISOTOPES OF HYDROGEN FROM WATER

摘要

A process and apparatus for treating the heavy hydrogen isotope content of t he contaminated water by contacting the contamined water with a molecular separation material (28) including a support medium carrying a plurality of hydration sites having associated waters of hydration, whereby a portion of the waters of hydration are replaced with heavy hydrogen isotope water molecules from the contaminated water. The hydrogen isotope water molecule content of the contaminated water is thus decreased. The molecular separatio n material (28) is preferably a polymer, such as a polystyrene/divinyl benzene cross-linked polymer, having hydration sites with associated waters of hydration. Preferred hydration sites are obtained by reacting the polymer which has been sulfonated or phosphonated to create reactive sites, with a salt of, for example, aluminum, sodium, magnesium, copper, zinc, cobalt, iro n, nickel, manganese, potassium and chromium. Before or during contact with the molecular separation material (28), the contaminated water may be brought in to contact with a separation membrane (12) selectively permeable to light water molecules relative to hydrogen isotope water molecules, to remove light wate r molecules from the water, thereby increasing the concentration of said hydrogen isotope molecules.