Detection of tritium generated by proton exchange membrane electrolysis by optimization of electrolysis conditions

The electrolysis conditions in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) cell were optimized by varying the current supplied; the detection efficiency for gaseous tritium generated from the PEM cell under optimized electrolysis conditions was analyzed. The current was optimized to 7 A. Under the optimized current condition, the change in activity of the tritiated water before and after electrolysis was 200 +/- 11 kBq. When tritiated water with tritium activity concentration of 2912 kBq/L was electrolyzed, the detection efficiency was 31.3 +/- 1.3%. Moreover, the minimum detectable activity of gaseous tritium was 10.3 +/- 0.8 kBq/m(3) in 5 min.