Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2000, Volume 3, Issue 5+6

Chemically Modified Glasses for Analysis of Hydrogen Isotopes by Gas-Chromatography

Abstract

An extensive experimental research has been carried out by gas-chromatographic runs in order to identify the most suitable adsorbents and define the best operating conditions for selective separation and analysis of hydrogen isotopes in near real-time (i.e. less than 10 min.). Preparation and operation procedures of chromatographic column for hydrogen isotope separation have been examined. This is one of the main requirements of the tritium separation from heavy water of CANDU reactors and of the tritium fuel cycle D-T fusion reactors.
This paper describes the preparation of adsorbent materials utilised as stationary phase in the gas-chromatographic column for hydrogen isotope separation and treatment (activation) of stationary phase. Modified thermoresisting glass with Fe(NH₄)₂(SO₄)₂ 6H₂O and Cr₂O₃ respectively, have been experimentally investigated at 77K for H2, HD and D₂ separation and the results of chromatographic runs are also reported and discussed. The hydrogen isotopes H₂, HD, D₂ and their mixture have been obtained in our laboratories. The best operating conditions of the adsorbent column Fe (III)/glass and Cr₂O₃/glass, i.e. granolumetry, column length, pressure-drop along the column, carrier gas flow rate, sample volume have been studied by means of the analysis of the retention times, separation factors, resolution factors and NETP.