Abstract: A method for the recovery of carbon-14 (C-14) from a mixture of inert gas and carbon-12 (C-12), carbon-13 (C-13) and C-14 dioxides. The mixture is cooled to a temperature below the solidification point of carbon dioxide to obtain solid carbon dioxide. The solid carbon dioxide is volatilized to provide substantially pure carbon dioxide gas which is reduced to carbon monoxide gas by reaction with metal. The carbon monoxide gas is cooled to obtain liquefied carbon monoxide. A feed of the liquefied carbon monoxide is subjected to fractional distillation and a bottoms rich in C-14 monoxide and poor in C-12 monoxide is collected and a distillate poor in C-14 monoxide and rich in C-12 monoxide is removed. The bottoms are oxidized to carbon dioxide rich in C-14 dioxide which is absorbed in a metal hydroxide solution and a carbonate salt rich in C-14 is obtained.

Abstract: The invention provides a new high temperature isotopic exchange fuel processing loop for tritium recovery in which tritium is exchanged out of impurities such as tritiated ammonia, methane and water by swamping with H.sub.2 and isotopically equilibrating the mixture in a high temperature reactor. Downstream of the reactor is a Pd/Ag permeator for separation of the hydrogen from the impurities, the separated hydrogen being sent to an isotope separation system for tritium recovery and the residual impurities being recycled. The process eliminates the need for impurity oxidation and electrolysis of DTO and does not rely on complicated catalytic decomposition reactions.

Abstract: A gas chromatography apparatus adapted for large scale separation of gases at low temperature comprises a column packed with a solid adsorbent and having a cooling tube being open at both ends extending centrally through its length. The column is suspended in a pressure vessel so that it may be totally immersed in a liquified gas coolant. The pressure vessel has heating means to maintain the coolant at its boiling point and thereby to regulate the temperature within the vessel by varying the pressure therein. The apparatus has particular application to the large scale separation of hydrogen isotopes.

Abstract: A method for separating hydrogen isotope species by gas chromatography is described. The invention utilizes low temperature chromatography on molecular sieves with peak cutting or temperature programming depending on the particular application. The method provides a much larger throughput capability than was heretofore available. The invention also includes the separation of mixed dimer isotope species from the helium carrier gas by condensation, and storage thereof at low temperature in a non-catalytic environment so that equilibration may be avoided.