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H. T. Sessions Jr. and S. E. H. Murph
energetically favorable fusion reactants. Tritium, one of the hydrogen isotopes, is
a vital component of nuclear weapons, fusion research, and self-illuminating light
sources, such as exit signs. Tritium radioactively decays to helium-3, which has also
become a precious analyte due to its use in neutron detection equipment that is used
all over the world to protect our nation and its allies from terrorism. Additionally,
the development of advanced nuclear signature collection (e.g., hydrogen isotopes)
or detection technologies that enable advanced, in-field analysis methodologies for
safeguarding and monitoring nuclear nonproliferation activities is highly sought.
Potential occurrence of orthro and para isomers of hydrogen isotopes [3] coupled
with the presence of hydrogen-deuterium species adds another degree of complexity
to these processes which must be taken into consideration when developing hydrogen
isotopes-based technologies. The composition and balance between the hydrogen
isotopes is critical for many of these applications [4]. For example, typically, less
than 10% applied rate of deuterium and tritium is needed for operation, economy,
and environmental safety of nuclear fusion reactions.
Therefore, a staggering amount of work has been focused on the development
of hydrogen isotope separation, storage, purification, and quantification technologies. These are major undertakings as hydrogen isotopes have very similar physicochemical properties. The Thermal Cycling Absorption Process, an advanced technology, was developed by Savannah River Site to separate hydrogen isotopes based
on absorption, and temperature and pressure cycling [5]. Other technologies, namely
cryogenic distillation, cryogenic adsorption, palladium alloy diffusion, thermal diffusion, localized electromagnetic thermal processes, [4] and laser separation, have
been explored for the separation of hydrogen isotopes needed in the thermonuclear fusion reactors [6]. The presence of impurities, such as helium-3, argon,
nitrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, zinc-65, hydrogen sulfide, and moisture, in
a hydrogen gas stream impart additional challenges for hydrogen processing. To
mitigate these issues, the impurities from hydrogen streams must be removed prior
to isotope separation [7]. Recently, a nanomaterial treated filter [8] was developed for
removal of byproduct impurities generated in the tritium facilities. Specifically, gold
nanomaterial treated filters (stainless steel wool, copper, and bronze) were successfully employed to capture contaminants (e.g. zinc-65) [9]. Once cleaned of impurities and separated, hydrogen isotopes are stored in gas phase high pressure cylinders, a liquid phase at cryogenic temperature, or on solid-state materials, such as
lanthanum-nickel-aluminum alloy materials.
Gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy have been
used for detection and quantification of hydrogen isotope mixtures [10, 11]. A
common analytical method of identifying and quantifying isotopic species of
hydrogen is mass spectrometry. However, a low mass, high-resolution mass spectrometer with adequate sensitivity and stability to identify and quantify hydrogen
isotopes in the low ppm range is expensive and is not readily available to all laboratories in the scientific community. Moreover, it is a highly complex instrument that
requires skilled personnel for operation, sample preparation and post data stream
analysis and interpretation. Simple, low-cost and readily available technologies that
H. T. Sessions Jr. and S. E. H. Murph
energetically favorable fusion reactants. Tritium, one of the hydrogen isotopes, is
a vital component of nuclear weapons, fusion research, and self-illuminating light
sources, such as exit signs. Tritium radioactively decays to helium-3, which has also
become a precious analyte due to its use in neutron detection equipment that is used
all over the world to protect our nation and its allies from terrorism. Additionally,
the development of advanced nuclear signature collection (e.g., hydrogen isotopes)
or detection technologies that enable advanced, in-field analysis methodologies for
safeguarding and monitoring nuclear nonproliferation activities is highly sought.
Potential occurrence of orthro and para isomers of hydrogen isotopes [3] coupled
with the presence of hydrogen-deuterium species adds another degree of complexity
to these processes which must be taken into consideration when developing hydrogen
isotopes-based technologies. The composition and balance between the hydrogen
isotopes is critical for many of these applications [4]. For example, typically, less
than 10% applied rate of deuterium and tritium is needed for operation, economy,
and environmental safety of nuclear fusion reactions.
Therefore, a staggering amount of work has been focused on the development
of hydrogen isotope separation, storage, purification, and quantification technologies. These are major undertakings as hydrogen isotopes have very similar physicochemical properties. The Thermal Cycling Absorption Process, an advanced technology, was developed by Savannah River Site to separate hydrogen isotopes based
on absorption, and temperature and pressure cycling [5]. Other technologies, namely
cryogenic distillation, cryogenic adsorption, palladium alloy diffusion, thermal diffusion, localized electromagnetic thermal processes, [4] and laser separation, have
been explored for the separation of hydrogen isotopes needed in the thermonuclear fusion reactors [6]. The presence of impurities, such as helium-3, argon,
nitrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, zinc-65, hydrogen sulfide, and moisture, in
a hydrogen gas stream impart additional challenges for hydrogen processing. To
mitigate these issues, the impurities from hydrogen streams must be removed prior
to isotope separation [7]. Recently, a nanomaterial treated filter [8] was developed for
removal of byproduct impurities generated in the tritium facilities. Specifically, gold
nanomaterial treated filters (stainless steel wool, copper, and bronze) were successfully employed to capture contaminants (e.g. zinc-65) [9]. Once cleaned of impurities and separated, hydrogen isotopes are stored in gas phase high pressure cylinders, a liquid phase at cryogenic temperature, or on solid-state materials, such as
lanthanum-nickel-aluminum alloy materials.
Gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy have been
used for detection and quantification of hydrogen isotope mixtures [10, 11]. A
common analytical method of identifying and quantifying isotopic species of
hydrogen is mass spectrometry. However, a low mass, high-resolution mass spectrometer with adequate sensitivity and stability to identify and quantify hydrogen
isotopes in the low ppm range is expensive and is not readily available to all laboratories in the scientific community. Moreover, it is a highly complex instrument that
requires skilled personnel for operation, sample preparation and post data stream
analysis and interpretation. Simple, low-cost and readily available technologies that