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Title: Application of H{sub 2}/HTO isotopic exchange method to recovery of tritium from waste water generated in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant

Journal Article · · Fusion Technology
OSTI ID:196829
; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Inst. of Research and Innovation, Kashiwa (Japan)
  2. Isotope Science Lab., Hayama (Japan)

The application of H{sub 2}/HTO isotopic exchange method to the tritium recovery at reprocessing plants was investigated. The size of multiunit exchange column was evaluated numerically for the recovery of tritium from the waste water containing a main impurity, HNO{sub 3}. The Pt-catalyst packed in the exchange column undergoes weak poisoning by HNO{sub 3}. However, the exchange efficiency of catalyst bed {eta} c is maintained at 0.75 even in the presence of 0.1 mol/l HNO{sub 3}. As the HNO{sub 3} concentration in the waste water is estimated as the order of 10{sup -2} mol/l, the column size is little affected by the HNO{sub 3} poisoning. The height and diameter of exchange column required for recovering 99% of tritium generated in a 4 t/d reprocessing plant (recovery efficiency {epsilon} =0.99) are evaluated as about 6m and 0.63m, respectively. When the tritium concentration in the waste gas is depleted below the environmental protection standard ({epsilon} =0.9999996), they are evaluated as about 19m and 0.57m, respectively. 9 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

OSTI ID:
196829
Report Number(s):
CONF-950506-; ISSN 0748-1896; TRN: 96:001398-172
Journal Information:
Fusion Technology, Vol. 28, Issue 3 pt 2; Conference: 5. topical meeting on tritium technology in fission, fusion and isotopic applications, Ispra (Italy), 28 May - 3 Jun 1995; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English