Tritium purification via zirconium--manganese--iron alloy getter St 909 in flow processes

Journal Article · Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.579167· OSTI ID:5242504

Baker, J D; Meikrantz, D H; Pawelko, R J; Anderl, R A ^[1]; Tuggle, D G ^[2]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, EG G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415-7111 (United States)
2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544 (United States)

A zirconium--manganese--iron alloy, St 909, was evaluated as a purifier in tritium handling, transport, and storage applications. High efficiency removal of CH[sub 4], CO, CO[sub 2], NH[sub 3], and O[sub 2] was observed at concentrations of 0.1% to 1% in helium. Gas streams at 100--5000 sccm were passed through getters operated at 600--800 [degree]C. On-getter residence times of two seconds were required to achieve [gt]99% removal of these reactive impurities. At this removal efficiency level, the individual impurity capacity of 100 g of St 909 purifier at 800 [degree]C was 0.59, 0.28, 0.19, 0.14, and 0.12 moles of CH[sub 4], CO, CO[sub 2], O[sub 2], and NH[sub 3], respectively. Hydrogen containing gasses, CH[sub 4] and NH[sub 3] were cracked on the purifier and the resultant elemental hydrogen was released. Only 8[plus minus]2 sccm of H[sub 2] were retained on 100 g of St 909 at 800 [degree]C. These features suggest that this alloy can be employed as an efficient purifier for hydrogen isotopes in inert gas, nitrogen, or perhaps even H, D, or T streams.

• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5242504
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (United States) Vol. 12:2; ISSN 0734-2101; ISSN JVTAD6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080201* -- Hydrogen-- Chemisorption Storage
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400202 -- Isotope Effects
Isotope Exchange
& Isotope Separation
ALLOYS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
GETTERS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MANGANESE ALLOYS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PURIFICATION
RADIOISOTOPES
STEELS
TEMPERATURE RANGE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0400-1000 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 1000-4000 K
TRITIUM
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS