Helium and Hydrogen Isotope Adsorption and Separation in Metal-Organic Frameworks

Helium and Hydrogen Isotope Adsorption and Separation in Metal-Organic Frameworks
Author: Ingrid Zaiser
Publisher: Cuvillier Verlag
Total Pages: 200
Release: 2016-10-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3736983778

The separation of isotopes has always been a challenge because of their identical size, shape and thermodynamic properties. Nowadays, the extraction of deuterium is performed e.g. by the Girdler Sulfid process or cryogenic distillation, which lead to low separation factors (below 2.5) in combination with high energy costs. The standard way to produce helium-3 is to skim it as a byproduct of the radioactive tritium decay. In this thesis, two alternative approaches have been investigated for the separation of light isotopes, Quantum Sieving and Chemical Affinity Sieving . While Quantum Sieving is based on confinement in small pores, Chemical Affinity Sieving relies on strong adsorption sites. Both methods use the mass difference of the isotopes, which is related to their zero-point energy. The microporous metal-organic frameworks are excellent candidates for studying these quantum effects due to their well-defined pore structure and the possibility to introduce strong adsorption sites directly into the framework. The samples have been exposed to an isotope mixture and the adsorbed quantity of each isotope was detected by low-temperature thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). The ratio of the desorbed amount of the isotopes leads directly to the selectivity (separation factor). The selectivity is determined as a function of exposure time and temperature and exhibits the highest value of 25 observed for hydrogen isotopes at temperatures well above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen.

Separation of Isotopes of Biogenic Elements in Two-phase Systems

Separation of Isotopes of Biogenic Elements in Two-phase Systems
Author: Boris Mikhailovich Andreev
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 317
Release: 2006-12-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080468098

Separation of Isotopes of Biogenic Elements provides a detailed overview of this area of research covering all aspects from the value of isotope effects to their practical use (equilibrium single-stage isotope effect - kinetics and mass transfer – multiplication of the single-stage isotope separation factor - technological peculiarity of processes) with the purpose of extraction from the natural mixture of the enriched and highly concentrated isotopes. In contrast to traditional books on the theory of isotope separation, the theoretical part of the book describes separation in two-phase processes in counter-flow columns. The experimental part of the book presents systematic analysis of specialists in the field of isotope separation in counter-flow columns. This book will be of interest to scientists, engineers and technical workers engaged in isotope separation processes and isotope application in nuclear physics, medicine, agro-chemistry, biology and other areas. This book may also be used in teaching theory and practical aspects in courses on physical chemistry and Isotope separation of light elements by physicochemical methods. * summarises current state of isotope research, especially biogenic elements* covering all aspects from the value of isotope effects to their practical use* of interest to scientists, engineers and technical workers engaged in isotope separation processes and isotope application

Hydrogen Isotope Exchange in Metal Hydride Columns

Hydrogen Isotope Exchange in Metal Hydride Columns
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 1977
Genre:
ISBN:

Several metal hydrides were shown to act as chromatographic media for hydrogen isotopes. The procedure was to equilibrate a column of hydride with flowing hydrogen, inject a small quantity of tritium tracer, and observe its elution behavior. Characteristic retention times were found. From these and the extent of widening of the tritium band, the heights equivalent to a theoretical plate could be calculated. Values of around 1 cm were obtained. The following are the metals whose hydrides were studied, together with the temperature ranges in which chromatographic behavior was observed: vanadium, 0 to 70°C; zirconium, 500 to 600°C; LaNi5, -78 to +30°C; Mg2Ni, 300 to 375°C; palladium, 0 to 70°C. A dual-temperature isotope separation process based on hydride chromatography was demonstrated. In this, a column was caused to cycle between two temperatures while being supplied with a constant stream of tritium-traced hydrogen. Each half-cycle was continued until ''breakthrough, '' i.e., until the tritium concentration in the effluent was the same as that in the feed. Up to that point, the effluent was enriched or depleted in tritium, by up to 20%.

Separation of Hydrogen Isotopes by Thermal Diffusion

Separation of Hydrogen Isotopes by Thermal Diffusion
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 1985
Genre:
ISBN:

At high hot wall temperatures the gas phase thermal diffusion column acts as an atomic rather than a molecular separator. A modified theory was developed to describe the process. Equivalent transport equations were derived for the two nuclides in a binary atomic mixture. The equations are identical in form to those normally encountered in thermal diffusion column theory. Experiments to test the theory were carried out with two 3-meter columns. Experimental results with deuterium-tritium mixtures were found to be in satisfactory agreement with theory, and it was concluded that the theory was sufficiently accurate for design purposes.