Methods, Devices, and Systems for the Separation and Concentration of Isotopologues

Abstract

The present invention is a novel method for removing tritium oxide contamination from a solution with water. The method captures the tritium oxide in a much smaller volume suitable for economical disposal. In so doing the original water is decontaminated of the tritium oxide and may be discharged.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A device for separating an isotopologue from a fluid mixture comprising a first and second isotopologue, comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber having a distal end and a proximal end;   filtration media housed within the interior chamber, wherein the filtration media comprises a third isotopologue;   an inlet port defined in the proximal end of the housing in communication with the interior chamber and a source of the fluid mixture of isotopologues; and   an outlet port defined in the distal end of the housing in communication with the interior chamber and the filtration media;   wherein upon entering the interior chamber through the inlet port, at least a portion of the second isotopologue present within the fluid mixture freezes and remains in the filtration media and a liquid filtrate comprising the first isotopologue exits the chamber through the outlet port.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first, second, and third isotopologues each have a different freezing temperature and wherein the freezing temperature of the third isotopologue is between the freezing temperature of the first isotopologue and the freezing temperature of the second isotopologue. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first isotopologue in the liquid stream is water, wherein the second isotopologue in the liquid stream is tritium oxide, and wherein the third isotopologue present in the filter media is deuterium oxide. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the filter media is at a temperature in the range of from greater than 0° C. to less than 3.82° C. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the filter media is maintained at a temperature in the range of from greater than 0° C. to 1.0° C. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the deuterium oxide filter media is provided as a plurality of finely divided particles having a particles size less than 425 μm. 
     
     
         24 . A system for continuous separation of an isotopologue from a fluid mixture of isotopologues, the system comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber having a distal end and a proximal end;   a grinder positioned in communication with the distal end of the interior chamber;   a source of filter media;   a means for exerting pressure onto the filter media wherein the means for exerting pressure is fluid transmissible and wherein the filter media is positioned in the interior chamber between the grinder and the means for exerting pressure;   a first inlet port defined in the housing in communication with the interior chamber and the solution;   a second inlet port defined in the housing in communication with the interior chamber and the source of filter media; and   a first outlet port defined in the housing in communication with the interior chamber.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the freezing point of the filter media is less than the freezing point of a first isotopologue to be separated from the mixture of isotopologues and wherein the freezing point of the filter media is greater than the freezing point of second isotopologue present in the mixture of isotopologues. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein upon entering the interior chamber through the first inlet port, a second isotopologue contained in the fluid mixture remains contained in the filter media, and liquid filtrate comprising a first isotopologue exits the interior chamber through the first outlet port. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein a portion of the filter media and the second isotopologue contained in the filter media is ground by the grinder. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising a melt loop, wherein the melt loop is configured to melt and homogenize the portion of the filter media and the second isotopologue ground by the grinder. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the ground filter media is refrozen and is returned to the interior chamber through the second inlet port. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the filter media has a temperature of between about 0.1 and 0.5° C. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for exerting pressure urges the filter media from the proximal end of the interior chamber towards the grinder. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the first inlet port is spaced a first predetermined distance from the distal end of the interior chamber, wherein the second inlet port is spaced a second predetermined distance from the distal end of the interior chamber, and wherein the second predetermined distance is greater than the first predetermined distance. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for exerting pressure comprise a piston configured for biaxial movement from the proximal end of the interior chamber a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for exerting pressure comprise a screw feed configured to inject filter media into the interior chamber. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the filter media is deuterium oxide ice.