Method and apparatus for the rapid conversion of deuterium oxide into deuterium

Abstract

A method and apparatus are described in detail for the rapid conversion of deuterium oxide into deuterium. A glass bulb at one end of the evacuated conversion apparatus contains a sealed ampoule holding the liquid deuterium oxide. This ampoule of deuterium oxide is broken by placing liquid air around the outer bulb, which is subsequently heated electrically to control the passage of the vapors of deuterium oxide into the reaction tube containing powdered magnesium at 480 0 C, where the following reaction occurs: Mg(snlid) + D20 (gas) = MgO (solid) + D2 (gas). The rate of evolution of deuterium from the I-inch reaction tube can be made as great as 1 mole in 2 hours. The evolved deuterium passes through a liquid-air filter-trap and is collected as liquid in a 50-ml brass bottle immersed in ordinary liquid hydrogen (temperature about -253 0 C). The connection to the conversion apparatus is closed, that to a I-liter brass bottle is opened, and the deuterium is permitted to vaporize and fill the two brass bottles at room temperature. In this manner 95 percent of the deuterium is obtained in the I-liter bottle as a gas under a pressure of about 23 atmospheres.

Use of Magnesium for Recovering Hydrogen Isotopes from Tritiated Water

“…this purpose,either Mg or U is irreversiblyconsumed and mustbe disposedof as tritiated waste. It follows that this The use of this reaction to produceD2 gas from processingtechnique would be inappropriatefor a large deuteratedwater has been reported [2]. Thus, flowing tritiated waterprocessing operation.…”

Facile and Convenient Method of Deuterium Gas Generation Using a Pd/C‐Catalyzed H2–D2 Exchange Reaction and Its Application to Synthesis of Deuterium‐Labeled Compounds

“…The pyrolysis of UD 3 was also reported as a generation method of D 2 , but it is not practical because of the use of radioactive uranium metal 6. As for the preparation methods of D 2 on a laboratory scale, the reactions of metals such as sodium,7 iron,8 and magnesium9 with D 2 O have been reported in the literature, although a large quantity of metal sludge was produced and drastic reaction conditions (several hundred degrees Celsius) were required. Numerous catalytic H 2 –D 2 exchange reactions between H 2 and D 2 O have also been reported in the literature 10–18.…”

Determination of the Deuterium Content of a Sample of Deuterium Oxide by Three Methods.

“…A similar method using zinc (7) has been described in detail. Magnesium (9) has also been used as a reductant.…”