An assessment on hydrogen isotopes separation by liquid phase catalytic exchange process

Based upon the authors’ long experience and upon a literature review, this paper presents an assessment regarding up-to-date R&D activities related to development and application of liquid phase catalytic exchange (LPCE) technology for tritium separation from tritiated water, produced in fission and fusion nuclear reactors. The assessment is focused on key elements of the LPCE process, mixed catalytic packing and as a result of the assessment, few recommendations for selecting the most suitable mixed catalytic packing are given. A new improved mixed catalytic packing (COMPACK C–P 001) was manufactured and proposed to be used in the future Tritium Removal Facility from Cernavoda CANDU NPP (Romania).