Reduction of tritiated methane over Zr-Fe-Mn, Fe and Ni

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Fusion Technology

OSTI ID:447366

Antoniazzi, A B; Shmayda, W T ^[1]

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1. Ontario Hydro Technologies, Toronto (Canada)

Tritiated waste and glovebox cleanup systems contain significant levels of trititated methane impurities which require reducing and processing to recover the tritium. A viable approach to the recovery of tritium is the conversion of tritiated methane into elemental tritium and carbon by thermal cracking on a heated metal matrix. Through the conversion reaction of HTO/H{sub 2}O with hot Al{sub 4}C{sub 3} powder, tritiated methane concentrations in the 0.4 to 0.9 mCi/m{sup 3} range are achievable. The HTO/H{sub 2}O ratio is approx.10{sup -7}. Conversion efficiencies for the decomposition of methane are measured for Zr-Fe-Mn alloy, iron oxide and supported nickel catalyst. HT and HTO are created by decomposing methane. Zr-Fe-Mn alloy achieved a maximum conversion efficiency of approx.70% at 700{degree}C. Iron oxide thermally cracked methane at 36% at a temperature of 700{degree}C. Supported nickel operating at 450{degree}C achieved conversion efficiencies ranging from 65 to 100%. 5 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 447366
• Report Number(s): CONF-9606116--
• Journal Information: Fusion Technology, Journal Name: Fusion Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 30; ISSN FUSTE8; ISSN 0748-1896
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CONVERSION
EFFICIENCY
GLOVEBOXES
HYDROGEN FUELS
IRON
METHANE
NICKEL
NUMERICAL DATA
REDUCTION
STAINLESS STEEL-316L
THERMAL CRACKING
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TRITIUM RECOVERY
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS