Tritiated water treatment process

The invention provides a method for removing tritium from water comprising the steps of: bringing the water into contact with a water insoluble hydrophilic material that is more basic than the water and contains labile hydrogen atoms to provide an isotope exchange of tritium from the water to said water insoluble material; bringing said water insoluble hydrophilic material into contact with a liquid that contains labile hydrogen atoms and is more basic than said water insoluble material to provide an isotope exchange of tritium from said water insoluble material to said liquid, said more basic property of said liquid causing a tritium concentration to form in said liquid that is greater than the tritium concentration in the water; and separating the tritium from said liquid. (author)