[en] Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) measurements are in progress to provide data describing the kinetics of desorption of H₂O(g) and H₂(g) from ceramic tritium breeders. Preliminary blank experiments indicated that the steel can be a reactive participant with H₂O being consumed and H₂ being evolved. There is also evidence of some dissolution of H₂ in the steel. However, it is possible to stabilize the tube in the absence of added H₂ so that useful measurements with H₂O(g) can be made. Initial work is on the LiAlO₂-H₂O(g) system. Fresh samples of LiAlO₂ bear large amounts of adsorbed H₂O. TPD spectra were measured for LiAlO₂ that had been equilibrated with 200 ppM H₂O(g) at temperatures from 473 to 773 K. Several techniques of data analysis were applied. There still remain questions of possible peak overlap to resolve for all cases. An activation energy of desorption of H₂O(g) of approximately 120 kJ/mol appears to be associated with the sample equilibrated at 673 K. When compared with the same value reported in the literature for decomposition of LiOH, this result suggests that some sites on LiAlO₂ might resemble sites on Li₂O in their adsorptive properties. For the 773 K equilibration, the activation energy of desorption appears considerably higher. 6 refs., 4 figs