Abstract
The review considers thermodynamics and kinetics of isotope exchange in the H2O-H2S system. The temperature dependences of separation factor α are considered for all binary H-T, H-D, and DT mixtures. The effect of equilibrium constants of homo-molecular exchange reactions involving water and hydrogen sulfide on concentration dependence of α is demonstrated. Distribution of tritium between the liquid and the gas phases has been studied as a function of the H/D ratio in each phase. The differential equations describing the steady-state interdiffusion of dissolved hydrogen sulfide and water accompanied by chemical reaction of isotope exchange have been solved. It has been shown that solution to the mass-transfer problem allows for calculation of the HTU (height of transfer unit) value in a packed separation column. The HTU dependences on the flowrate in a packed column and on the composition of liquid-phase in the H2O-H2S and D2O-D2S systems are presented. A mathematical model of isotope separation by the dual-temperature method is discussed. The model is used to analyze the basic features of the method and the effects associated with mutual solubility of phases. Optimization of the Girdler–Spevack process by varying the operation parameters in the column are discussed. The results of testing a modified dual-temperature set-up demonstrate a high efficiency of separation of hydrogen isotopes by the proposed technique.
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