EXTRACTION METHOD OF TRITIUM

摘要

EXTRACTION METHOD OF TRITIUM An extraction method of a high purity tritium gas from tritium-containing heavy water is disclosed. Tritium-containing heavy water is led from a heavy water source into an exchange reaction column wherein the heavy water is brought into contact with a tritium-containing heavy hydrogen to thereby transfer tritium in the heavy hydrogen into the heavy water by way of the exchange reaction to obtain a tritiumenriched heavy water. The resulting tritium-enriched heavy water is then led to a heavy hydrogen gas generator such as an electrolytic cell to generate a tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen, a part of which is recycled to the exchange reaction column and the remaining part thereof is led into a hot-wire type thermal diffusion column cascade to enrich tritium. The thus enriched tritium gas is withdrawn from the thermal diffusion column cascade. The tritium-depleted heavy hydrogen withdrawn from the exchange reaction column is burnt to produce a tritium-depleted heavy water which is then recycled to both the heavy water source and the exchange reaction column.