Adsorption-desorption mediated separation of low concentrated D2O from water with hydrophobic activated carbon fiber

The adsorption and desorption of D2O on hydrophobic activated carbon fiber (ACF) occurs at a smaller pressure than the adsorption and desorption of H2O. The behavior of the critical desorption pressure difference between D2O and H2O in the pressure range of 1.25–1.80 kPa is applied to separate low concentrated D2O from water using the hydrophobic ACF, because the desorption branches of D2O and H2O drop almost vertically. The deuterium concentration of all desorbed water in the above pressure range is lower than that of water without adsorption-treatment on ACF. The single adsorption-desorption procedure on ACF at 1.66 kPa corresponding to the maximum difference of adsorption amount between D2O and H2O reduced the deuterium concentration of desorbed water to 130.6 ppm from 143.0 ppm. Thus, the adsorption–desorption procedure of water on ACF is a promising separation and concentration method of low concentrated D2O from water.