Abstract: Methods and systems directed to the separation of tritium from an aqueous stream are described. The separation method is a multi-stage method that includes a first stage during which tritium of a tritium-contaminated aqueous stream is adsorbed onto a separation phase, a second stage during which the adsorbed tritium is exchanged with hydrogen in a gaseous stream to provide a gaseous stream with a high tritium concentration, and a third stage during which the tritium of the gaseous stream is separated from the gaseous stream as a gaseous tritium product.

Abstract: A system and method for tritium separation systems using a mixed bed catalytic exchange process in a Liquid Phase Catalytic Exchange/Closed Loop Continuous Process (LPCE/CLCP) system, that operates as a low temperature and low pressure continuous balanced process, designed to rapidly, economically and safely extract and isolate isotope specific products without generating unwanted products in the form of new waste streams.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for producing heavy water. In one embodiment, a catalyst is treated with high purity air or a mixture of gaseous nitrogen and oxygen with gaseous deuterium all together flowing over the catalyst to produce the heavy water. In an alternate embodiment, the deuterium is combusted to form the heavy water. In an alternate embodiment, gaseous deuterium and gaseous oxygen is flowed into a fuel cell to produce the heavy water. In various embodiments, the deuterium may be produced by a thermal decomposition and distillation process that involves heating solid lithium deuteride to form liquid lithium deuteride and then extracting the gaseous deuterium from the liquid lithium deuteride.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method including providing a nano-environment; and confining heavy or light water in the nano-environment such that at least one water cluster forms.

Abstract: An imaging contrast agent is provided for hydrogen magnetic resonance imaging (H MRI). The agent uses replacement and chemical exchange of hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D) on obtaining MRI images for comparison. An isotonic physiologic saline solution with deuterium oxide (D2O) is made. The solution is intravenously injected to obtain the intensity alterations on MRI images. The injected D2O is perfused into tissue and replace the original water. Exchanges between H and D occur and a solution of hydrogen deuterium oxide (HDO) is obtained. After such mechanisms, MRI images are compared for differences. Thus, a novel, non-radioactive, non-toxic and non-invasive MRI agent is provided for people who are allergic to general imaging agents.

Abstract: The method for concentrating an oxygen isotope or isotopes of the present invention combines the step of concentrating 17O and/or the step of depleting 18O that utilizes photodissociation of ozone by a laser beam with an oxygen distillation step that concentrates the oxygen isotope. At this time, it is preferable to carry out a step of isotope scrambling in addition to the above. When both a step of concentrating 17O and a step of depleting 18O are carried out, whichever thereof may be done first prior to the other. Also these steps may be placed either before or after the oxygen distillation step. Moreover, at least one of said oxygen distillation step, the concentrating 17O step, the depleting 18O step and the isotope scrambling step is preferably carried out twice or more.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for separating tritium from radioactive waste materials and the water from nuclear reactors. Some embodiments involve the reaction of tritiated hydrogen gases with water in the presence of a catalyst in a catalytic exchange column, yielding a more concentrated and purified tritiated water product. Some embodiments involve the use of a permeation module, similar in some respects to a gas chromatography column, in which a palladium permeation layer is used to separate tritiated hydrogen gas from a mixture of gases.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method including providing a nano-environment; and confining heavy or light water in the nano-environment such that at least one water cluster forms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process whereby pre-enrichment of water streams using a hydrogen source and a catalytic isotope exchange method at one or more remote sites to supply water with augmented deuterium concentration to a central heavy water. This central heavy water plant could be a Combined Electrolysis and Catalytic Exchange (“CECE”) heavy water production plant or a Girdler Sulfide heavy water plant. The deuterium content of water at the remote sites is increased and provides water stream(s) with augmented deuterium concentration to feed to the central heavy water production plant. This could be a first stage of the central CECE deuterium enrichment plant, increasing its capacity for heavy water production approximately in the ratio of its enrichment above natural deuterium concentrations. By relatively simple utilization of available deuterium enrichment capacity at the remote sites, advantages are achieved from a larger scale of heavy water production at the central production plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process whereby pre-enrichment of water streams using a hydrogen source and a catalytic isotope exchange method at one or more remote sites to supply water with augmented deuterium concentration to a central heavy water. This central heavy water plant could be a Combined Electrolysis and Catalytic Exchange (“CECE”) heavy water production plant or a Girdler Sulfide heavy water plant. The deuterium content of water at the remote sites is increased and provides water stream(s) with augmented deuterium concentration to feed to the central heavy water production plant. This could be a first stage of the central CECE deuterium enrichment plant, increasing its capacity for heavy water production approximately in the ratio of its enrichment above natural deuterium concentrations. By relatively simple utilization of available deuterium enrichment capacity at the remote sites, advantages are achieved from a larger scale of heavy water production at the central production plant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and a system for recovery of isotopologues of water from an aqueous vapour stream optionally containing acidic gases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and a system for recovery of isotopologues of water from an aqueous liquid stream containing dissolved impurities.

Abstract: The method for concentrating an oxygen isotope or isotopes of the present invention combines the step of concentrating 17O and/or the step of depleting 18O that utilizes photodissociation of ozone by a laser beam with an oxygen distillation step that concentrates the oxygen isotope. At this time, it is preferable to carry out a step of isotope scrambling in addition to the above. When both a step of concentrating 17O and a step of depleting 18O are carried out, whichever thereof may be done first prior to the other. Also these steps may be placed either before or after the oxygen distillation step. Moreover, at least one of said oxygen distillation step, the concentrating 17O step, the depleting 18O step and the isotope scrambling step is preferably carried out twice or more.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising first to third columns, wherein the outlet of a first column reboiler and the inlet of a second column condenser are connected by a first introduction conduit, and the outlet of a second distillation column reboiler and the inlet of a third column condenser are connected by a second introduction conduit, and additionally the outlet of the second column condenser and the inlet of the first column reboiler are connected by a first return conduit, and the outlet of the third column condenser and the inlet of the second column reboiler are connected by a second return conduit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating alkali metals such as sodium charged with tritium or components contaminated with alkali metals such as sodium charged with tritium, in which the alkali metal is reacted with liquid water or water vapor, so as to obtain hydrogen and tritiated hydrogen, characterized in that the hydrogen and the tritiated hydrogen are subjected, in a recombiner (2) to a treatment of catalytic recombination by the addition of oxygen so as to obtain water and tritiated water, and in that the water and the tritiated water are treated so that they are not discharged into the environment. The invention also relates to a plant for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A method to catalyze hydrogen isotope exchange between water and hydrogen in which the water and hydrogen are contacted with a wetproofed catalyst, the catalyst having a hydrophobic porous matrix which has dispersed therein catalytically active platinum and at least one other metal which is chromium or titanium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating heavy isotopes of hydrogen from contaminated water. The apparatus includes a treatment chamber with an elongated hollow core fiber (HCF) extending within the chamber. A reservoir holds contaminated water mixed with beads formed of an exchange resin, the mixture of contaminated water and beads forming a flowable slurry. The slurry is continuously circulated through the hollow core fiber and the reservoir preferably by a pulsating peristaltic pump. The beads absorb a portion of the heavy isotopes from the slurry by exchange with waters of hydration of the beads while the hollow core fiber allows permeation of only light water from said slurry outwardly through the HCF wall as a permeate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing [F-18]-fluoride ion which comprises the step of bringing [O-18]-enriched water containing [F-18]-fluoride ion formed by proton irradiation of [O-18]-enriched water into contact with a strongly acidic cation exchange resin to remove impurity cations, the step of then bringing the [O-18]-enriched water containing [F-18]-fluoride ion treated above into contact with a weakly basic anion exchange resin to make [F-18]-fluoride ion adsorbed to the resin and, along therewith, to recover the [O-18]-enriched water which has passed through the resin, and the step of eluting and collecting the [F-18]-fluoride ion adsorbed to the weakly basic anion exchange resin.