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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Process for treating solutions containing tritiated water

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5764608

The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for treating solutions containing tritiated water. According to this process, an electrolyte such as soda is added to the solution, the solution obtained then undergoes electrolysis in order to release tritium in the gaseous state. Working takes place in an electrolytic cell having a cathode made from a metal which aids the diffusion of tritium, e.g. a Pd-Ag alloy coated with porous palladium black. The cathode forms a separating wall between the solution to be electrolyzed and a tritium reception compartment. The tritium which has diffused through the wall of the cathode is recovered in the compartment. Use for the recovery of tritium from effluents resulting from the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels is discussed.

Assignee:
Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (France)
Patent Number(s):
US 4487670
OSTI ID:
5764608
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English