Apparatus to recover tritium from tritiated molecules

This patent describes an apparatus for recovering tritium from tritiated water and tritiated species such as methane and ammonia and the like, comprising: (a) reactor means having a reactor chamber charged with a mixture of uranium and a first inert substance. The mixture for decomposing an injected steam mixture to recover tritium therefrom via an exothermic reaction of the uranium with the steam, the reaction inducing temperatures in the reaction chamber in excess of the melting of uranium, the reactor means including an outer vessel having wall means establishing the reaction chamber within the vessel. The wall means being formed of material that prevents a reaction between the outer vessel with uranium, the inert substance being a refractory material and the outer vessel being of sufficient thickness to conduct heat at heat transfer rates sufficient to prevent the wall means and vessel from attaining center line temperatures prevailing in the reaction chamber; (b) preheating means connected to the reactor means for receiving a supply of tritiated water for preheating the tritiated water to temperatures of about 6000C; and (c) receiving means connected to the reaction chamber for receiving tritium from the reaction chamber