Separation of tritium by decomposition reaction of tritiated water with Raney alloys

The separation of tritium from tritiated water (3.8 and 380 MBq/mol) was studied by leaching of various Raney alloys, Al-Ni, Al-Co, Al-Cu(1:1), and powdered Al, with NaOH solution of tritiated water. Diluted T-hydrogen gas, about 1/10 of the original tritiated water, was released by the leaching. Remarkably enriched T-hydrogen (about 100 times the level of the original T-water) was released when the leached alloy-residue was heated to > 300oC. Powdered Al gave dilute T-hydrogen but no enriched T-hydrogen from the residue, though the temperature was elevated to 1000oC. The results showed that the leaching reaction of Raney alloys is available for the enrichment and recovery of tritium from tritiated water. Two reaction mechanisms for the enrichment are proposed. (Author)