Tritium Stripping by a Catalytic Exchange Stripper

A catalytic exchange process for stripping elemental tritium from gas streams has been demonstrated. The process uses a catalyzed isotopic exchange reaction between tritium in the gas phase and protium or deuterium in the solid phase on alumina. The reaction is catalyzed by platinum deposited on the alumina. The process has been tested with both tritium and deuterium. Decontamination factors (ratio of inlet and outlet tritium concentrations) as high as 1,000 have been achieved, depending on inlet concentration. The test results and some demonstrated applications are presented.