Method for preparation of deuterium by isotope separation

A method for separating deuterium and hydrogen, comprising the steps of bringing into contact a gaseous mixture of deuterium and hydrogen with a metal alloy material selected from the group consisting of TiNi, Ti.sub.2 Ni, and a mixture TiNi and Ti.sub.2 Ni in a Clusius separating column of a porous matrix whose pores are filled with the metal alloy material, thereafter separating a non-absorbed residual gas from the metal alloy material after a period of time sufficient for the absorption of hydrogen in the metal alloy material and conducting away hydrogen diffused through the column wall kept at temperatures up to about 300.degree.C. maximum.

A process for producing deuterium-enriched gas, which comprises contacting a gaseous mixture of deuterium and hydrogen at temperatures up to about 300.degree.C. with a metal alloy material consisting essentially of TiNi, Ti.sub.2 Ni or a mixture of TiNi and Ti.sub.2 Ni for a period of time sufficient to absorb hydrogen in said material and to provide a deuterium-enriched residue gas, separating said residue gas from said material, heating the material having hydrogen absorbed therein to cause dehydrogenation and discharge of hydrogen from said material, thereafter contacting said dehydrogenation material with said gaseous mixture of deuterium and hydrogen or said deuterium-enriched residue gas to absorb additional hydrogen and to provide another deuterium-enriched residue gas, and separating said another deuterium-enriched residue gas from said material.