Improved technique for the electrolytic enrichment of tritium

Abstract

The performance of a controlled power supply for the electrolytic enrichment of tritium in environmental samples is described. Using a solution of sodium hydroxide as electrolyte, a reservoir feed system, a pure nickel anode and a mild-steel cathode and probe, a control loop circuit is created to maintain constant current density during the entire electrolysis. Tritium enrichment factors of ×10–70 are obtained with volume enrichment factors of ×20–100 and corresponding tritium recoveries of 62.3 ± 1.5%.