Specific Features and Current Status of Processes for Tritium Removal from Water: A Critical Review

Based on a thermodynamic analysis of potentially applicable methods for water detritiation, it is concluded that the most promising methods are water distillation and chemical isotope exchange (ChIE) between hydrogen and water. Data on the mass transfer characteristics of these separation methods for various types of contact devices in countercurrent separation columns are presented. Installations for detritiation of light water are compared using the ITER reactor project as an example, and advantages and disadvantages of the methods are analyzed. Taking into account information about existing or planned water detritiation installations in different countries of the world, the conditions for the preferential application of ChIE technology are considered.