GB1437366A - Process and plant for obtaining a deuterium-enriched feed flow - Google Patents

Abstract

1437366 Deuterium enrichment of H 2 O, H 2 or a gaseous mixture containing H 2 SULZER BROS Ltd 2 July 1973 [30 June 1972] 31527/73 Heading C1A A deuterium enriched stream of water, hydrogen or a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen is produced by (a) catalytically transforming a D 2 depleted H 2 stream with CO 2 to form D 2 depleted H 2 O and CO, (b) separating the CO and adding it to a D 2 O rich H 2 O stream, (c) catalytically transforming the CO and D 2 O rich H 2 O stream into CO 2 and D 2 rich H 2 , (d) isotope exchange, using as a catalyst the D 2 rich H 2 and CO 2 with fresh water to produce a D 2 O enriched water stream, part of which may be taken as product and part of which is used to react with the CO and also the D 2 depleted H 2 stream and CO 2 which is the feed stream to step (a) above. The process may be modified by the use of a two stage catalytic transformation process and also by the use of a transfer column, whereby the D 2 O enriched H 2 O from the isotope exchange is further exhanged with the CO stream which contains H 2 O vapour to produce a D 2 O enriched H 2 O vapour stream containing CO which is converted to the D 2 enriched H 2 stream containing CO 2 and also a D 2 O depleted H 2 O stream which is recycled to the top of the first isotope exchange column. The D 2 enriched H 2 product of gas containing such H 2 may be taken from the gas stream fed to the bottom of the isotope exchange column.