Prospects for using chemical isotopic exchange for separation of hydrogen isotopes

The status of the production of heavy water in the world and Russia is analyzed. It is shown by comparing the main methods of producing heavy water that the most promising method for reprocessing untreated heavy-water wastes, including the removal of tritium from them, is isotopic exchange between water and hydrogen. The basic parameters of a pilot commercial setup, which makes it possible to obtain heavy water with a deuterium atomic fraction of 99.8%, are presented. The problem of removal of tritium from heavy-water wastes using the water-hydrogen system at the starting stage and hydrogen-palladium hydride at the final stage, is examined. The combination of methods developed makes it possible to produce a universal module for removing protium and tritium from heavy-water wastes. 1 figure, 2 tables, 20 references.