Future Recovered Gas Dryer Development (SRTE FY2019 PRDR SR19009)

A manifold was designed and constructed to evaluate the isotopic exchange of deuterium for hydrogen using Pt catalyzed zeolites, deuterated water, and deuterated ammonia. Using varying catalytic loadings on the 5A substrate and real-time RGA monitoring of the effluent stream, isotopic exchange was successfully demonstrated between H₂ and D₂O or ND₃. The catalytic isotopic exchange was further verified when compared against an uncatalyzed sample of zeolite, demonstrating little-to-no activity. Based on the experiments performed here, the removal of tritium from tritiated water and tritiated ammonia is possible for future RGD beds using a Pt catalyzed zeolite. Work is still ongoing with the planned manifold improvements and scheduled testing of other catalyzed zeolite substrates.