Method for separating heavy isotopes of hydrogen oxide from water

A process for molecular separation of water contaminated with heavy isotopes of hydrogen oxide to reduce the hydrogen isotope content of the contaminated water comprising:

• A. providing a source of the contaminated water;
• B. providing a molecular separation membrane that is selectively permeable to light water molecules relative to hydrogen isotope water molecules;
• C. providing a molecular separation material including a support medium carrying a plurality of hydration sites capable of association with waters of hydration;
• D. bringing the contaminated water into contact with said separation membrane to remove light water molecules from the contaminated water, thereby increasing the concentration of said hydrogen isotope molecules in the contaminated water;
• E. bringing the contaminated water into contact with said molecular separation material to attach a portion of the hydrogen isotope water molecules in the contaminated water to a portion of said hydration sites, the hydrogen isotope water molecule content of the contaminated water being decreased thereby.

A process for molecular separation of water contaminated with heavy isotopes of hydrogen oxide to reduce the hydrogen isotope content of the contaminated water comprising:

• A. providing at least two treatment chambers, each of said chambers containing a molecular separation material that includes a support medium carrying a plurality of hydration sites capable of association with waters of hydration;
• B. selectively placing contaminated water into a first said chamber in contact with said molecular separation material causing the attachment of a portion of hydrogen isotope water molecules in the contaminated water to a portion of said hydration sites;
• C. periodically determining the saturation level of molecular separation material in said first chamber by comparing the hydrogen isotope content of contaminated water entering said first chamber and that of contaminated water discharged from said first chamber;
• D. stopping the supply of contaminated water to said first chamber and supplying contaminated water to a second said chamber when a predetermined saturation level is determined.

A process for molecular separation of water contaminated with heavy isotopes of hydrogen oxide to reduce the hydrogen isotope content of the contaminated water comprising:

• A. providing a plurality of treatment chambers connected for series flow therethrough, each of said chambers containing a molecular separation material that includes a support medium carrying a plurality of hydration sites capable of association with waters of hydration, said plurality of chambers having an inlet and an outlet;
• B. providing a source of contaminated water that includes heavy isotopes of hydrogen oxide;
• C. directing the contaminated water to said inlet in contact with said molecular separation material causing the attachment of a portion of hydrogen isotope water molecules in the contaminated water to a portion of said hydration sites;
• D. determining the saturation level of molecular separation material in each said chamber by comparing the hydrogen isotope content of contaminated water entering said inlet to that of contaminated water discharged from an outlet of each said chamber;
• E. stopping the supply of contaminated water to each said chamber when a predetermined saturation level of said molecular separation material in a corresponding said chamber is determined.

A process for molecular separation of water contaminated with heavy isotopes of hydrogen oxide to reduce the hydrogen isotope content of the contaminated water comprising:

• A. providing a counterflow treatment chamber having first and second inlets and first and second outlets;
• B. providing a source of the contaminated water containing hydrogen isotope water molecules and flowing the contaminated water into said treatment chamber through said first inlet positioned adjacent to a lower end of said treatment chamber;
• C. providing a molecular separation material including a support medium carrying a plurality of hydration sites capable of association by adsorption with waters of hydration;
• D. placing the contaminated water into counterflowing contact with said molecular separation material by flowing said molecular separation material into said treatment chamber through said second inlet positioned at an upper end of said treatment chamber causing the attachment of a portion of hydrogen isotope water molecules from the contaminated water to thereby decrease the hydrogen isotope water molecule content of the contaminated water;
• and
• E. separating the contaminated water from said molecular separation material by flowing the contaminated water which is ascending in said treatment chamber from said first outlet positioned at an upper end of said treatment chamber and by removing said separation material which is descending in said tank from said outlet positioned at a lower end of said treatment chamber.