Separation of hydrogen isotopes

A method for obtaining isotopes of hydrogen by photo-dissociation of organic acid comprises: providing an organic acid (e.g. formic acid or acetic acid) having molecules containing isotopes of hydrogen; providing radiation (e.g. from a CO2 or N20 laser) having a wavelength in the infrared spectrum matched to an absorption line of a chemical bond of the molecule having a hydrogen isotope; interacting the radiation with the organic acid to excite vibrational energy levels of the chemical bonds of the molecules having hydrogen isotopes; and maintaining the interaction to provide sufficient energy to the chemical bonds of the molecules having hydrogen isotopes to cause dissociation. The acid is preferably maintained at elevated temperature (e.g. at least 500 C) to thermally decompose dimer molecules to monomers. The deuterium hydroxide or deuterium hydride produced by the photodissociation process may be separated from untreated organic acid and reaction products by conventional methods e.g. cold trapping. (author)