Superhydrophilic metal-organic frameworks film modified surface for tritium removal from tritiated heavy water

Abstract

Tritium extraction from heavy water moderators with catalytic exchange reactions had hydrogen explosion, fire risk, and complicated system design, which restricted the industrial scale usage. Herein, we reported a safer and simpler tritiated heavy water distillation process with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) modified surface. MOFs with microstructure, microporous pores, and hydrophilic nature showed superhydrophilic properties, which was a benefit to better interface contact properties between water drop, vapor, and packing. High separation efficiency was achieved with height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) of 1.53 cm under optimized operation conditions. Pilot-scale two-column tritiated heavy water distillation system was simulated and optimized based on experimental results with a high separation factor and recovery rate of tritium. This work demonstrates the first attempt at MOFs engineered surface for tritiated heavy water treatment, advancing a new concept in the design of tritiated heavy water distillation with intrinsic safety for industrial applications.