Process for hydrogen isotope concentration between liquid water and hydrogen gas
AssigneeAtomic Energy of Canada Limited
InventorWilliam H. Stevens
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Abstract
A process for hydrogen isotope exchange and concentration between liquid water and hydrogen gas, wherein liquid water and hydrogen gas are contacted, in an exchange section, with one another and with at least one catalyst body comprising at least one metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table and preferably a support therefor, the catalyst body has a liquid-water-repellent, gas permeable polymer or organic resin coating, preferably a fluorinated olefin polymer or silicone coating, so that the isotope concentration takes place by two simultaneously occurring steps, namely, ##EQU1## WHILE THE HYDROGEN GAS FED TO THE EXCHANGE SECTION IS DERIVED IN A REACTOR VESSEL FROM LIQUID WATER THAT HAS PASSED THROUGH THE EXCHANGE SECTION.
Claims13
In an isotope exchange process for hydrogen isotope concentration between liquid water and hydrogen gas, comprising:
- a. contacting at a temperature in the range 15.degree.C to 70.degree.C, in an exchange section, liquid feed water and hydrogen gas from a reaction vessel, with one another and with a catalyst consisting of at least one catalytically active metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table so that the deuterium isotope of hydrogen is transferred to and concentrated in the liquid water passing through and leaving the exchange section in either counter-current or cocurrent flow,
- b. passing the liquid water thus enriched with the deuterium isotope of hydrogen concentrated therein to the reaction vessel wherein the hydrogen gas for the exchange section is generated from a portion of the enriched water and then passed through the exchange section, and
- c. removing a portion of the water enriched in the exchange section, the improvement comprising:
- d. the catalyst is provided in the exchange section as at least one catalyst assembly comprising the catalyst and a substantially liquid-water-repellent organic polymer or resin coating thereon selected from the group consisting of polyfluorocarbons, hydrophobic hydrocarbon polymers of medium to high molecular weight and silicones, and which is permeable to water vapour and hydrogen gas, whereby:
- e. the or each catalyst assembly causes hydrogen isotope exchange and concentration in the exchange section as follows:
- ##EQU9## so that direct contact between the catalyst metal and liquid water and wetting of the catalyst is retarded by the coating thereby retarding poisoning of the catalyst by the liquid water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.