Method and device for activating and regenerating adsorbents used for enrichment of hydrogen isotope

Purpose: To provide the subject method and device wherein the enrichment of deuterium and tritium remaining in spent adsorbents are greatly reduced thereby making it possible to circulate and reuse the adsorbents. Method: Already dried adsorbents in which deuterium or tritium remain are supplied to an activating and regenerating column. On the other hand, a heated mixture of light water and gas is introduced in the lower part of the regenerating column, and a dry gas is introduced in a part lower than the above described part. Already dried adsorbents which are descending from the upper part of the regenerating column to the lower part thereof adsorb the water content, and thereafter come into counterflow contact with the dry gas, and adsorbed water is dehydrated. As a consequence, tritium (or deuterium) migrates into the hydrogen of the steam in the gas, and is recovered from the upper part of the regenerating column. (Kamimura, M.)