Abstract: The invention relates to a process for decontaminating the surface of a metal part contaminated by tritium and an apparatus usable for performing this process.In order to carry out said decontamination, the part (9) to be decontaminated is connected to the negative pole of a direct current generator, at least one portion of the surface of said part is contacted with a mixture incorporating water and an electrolyte, e.g. an aqueous solution of soda or sulphuric acid, or water and solid electrolyte (3), an electric current is passed between part (9) and anode (1) connected to the positive pole of the electric current generator (5) by applying to part (9) a current density of 10 to 50 mA.cm.sup.-2 for the cathodic hydrogen charging of part (9) and the replacement by hydrogen of the tritium absorbed on the surface of said part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for treating solutions containing tritiated water.According to this process, an electrolyte such as soda is added to the solution, the solution obtained then undergoes electrolysis in order to release tritium in the gaseous state. Working takes place in an electrolytic cell having a cathode made from a metal which aids the diffusion of tritium, e.g. a Pd-Ag alloy coated with porous palladium black. The cathode forms a separating wall between the solution to be electrolyzed and a tritium reception compartment. The tritium which has diffused through the wall of the cathode is recovered in the compartment.Use for the recovery of tritium from effluents resulting from the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels.