Tritium handling

Monitoring and Control. Detailed descriptions of methods used for handling and monitoring tritium at Savaimah River (76,77) and the European Tritium Handling Program (78) have been pubHshed. 

With careful planning, both TFTR and JET have demonstrated safe tritium handling in a fusion machine. Special controls imposed on the handling of tritium [60-62] have required that the quantity of tritium retained in the torus be accounted for and the inventory limited [63,64] in order to permit... 

The radioactive isotopes available for use as precursors for radioactive tracer manufacturing include barium [ C]-carbonate [1882-53-7], tritium gas, p2p] phosphoric acid or pP]-phosphoric acid [15364-02-0], p S]-sulfuric acid [13770-01 -9], and sodium [ I]-iodide [24359-64-6]. It is from these chemical forms that the corresponding radioactive tracer chemicals are synthesized. [ C]-Carbon dioxide, [ C]-benzene, and [ C]-methyl iodide require vacuum-line handling in weU-ventilated fume hoods. Tritium gas, pH]-methyl iodide, sodium borotritide, and [ I]-iodine, which are the most difficult forms of these isotopes to contain, must be handled in specialized closed systems. Sodium p S]-sulfate and sodium [ I]-iodide must be handled similarly in closed systems to avoid the Uberation of volatile p S]-sulfur oxides and [ I]-iodine. Adequate shielding must be provided when handling P P]-phosphoric acid to minimize exposure to external radiation. 

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. AH three hydrogen isotopes have nuclear spins, I 7 0, and consequently can all be used in nmr spectroscopy (Table 4) (see Magnetic spin resonance). Tritium is an even more favorable nucleus for nmr than is H, which is by far the most widely used nucleus in nmr spectroscopy. The radioactivity of T and the ensuing handling problems are a deterrent to widespread use for nmr. Considerable progress has been made in the appHcations of tritium nmr (23,24). 

Great care must always be exercised in handling radioisotopes. It is not only the powerful emitters that are dangerous but also weak emitters with long half-lives, e.g. tritium, carbon-14, which may be incorporated into the body and over a period of time can constitute a serious hazard. 

The use of lithium as a solid compound, a pure melt, or a molten alloy is required for tritium breeding in at least the first generation of fusion reactors. Three fusion reactor concepts are discussed with emphasis on material selection and material compatibility with lithium. Engineering details designed to safely handle molten lithium are described for one of the example concepts. Tritium recovery from the various breeding materials is reviewed. Finally, two aspects of the use of molten Li-Pb alloys are discussed the solubility of hydrogen isotopes, and the influence of the alloy vapor on heavy ion beam propagation. 

Oya, Y., et al. (2001) Tritium contamination and decontamination study on materials for ITER remote handling equipment. Fusion Ensineerins and Design. 55, 449-455. 

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Safe Handling of Tritium, Review of Data and Experience, Technical Reports Series No. 324, IAEA, Vienna, 1991. 

Iodine-125, phosphorus-32, phosphorus-33, carbon-14, and tritium are isotopes that arc commonly used in the research and clinical laboratory. However, it should be noted that iodine-125 and phosphorus-32 are particularly dangerous when handled at close range. 

The gaseous radioactive products released by dissolution of nuclear fuel 29jQ(jjne, radioactive aerosols, Krypton, 4c02, Tritium are handled in different ways. Radioactive aerosols are removed by scrubbing and with electrostatic and air filters. absorbed on silver nitrate-... 

The rewards of a workable nuclear fusion process would be great. Fusion produces neither the long-lived radioactive nuclides that accompany nuclear fission (although tritium requires care in handling) nor the environmental pollutants released by the burning of fossil fuels. Although deuterium is present in only 1/6000 of the abundance of ordinary hydrogen, its separation from the latter by the electrolysis of water is readily accomplished, and the oceans contain a virtually unlimited quantity of deuterium. 

D2O is also an excellent coolant and as both moderator and coolant, it is not consumed, but does get downgraded and leaks out of the system. Fortunately, these losses are manageable. A few neutrons, captured by D2O in the reactor, result in the formation of tritium, which exists in the form of DTO and presents hazards in the handling irradiated heavy water. ... 

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