Methods and systems for the separation of hydrogen isotopes from one another are described. Methods include utilization of a hydrogen isotope selective separation membrane that includes a hydrogen isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and a hydrogen ion conductive supporting layer. An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane at an elevated separation temperature to enrich the product in a selected hydrogen isotope.

In an aspect, an electrochemical hydrogen isotope recycling apparatus for recycling a feedstream comprising a single isotope of hydrogen, comprising: an electrochemical recycling unit, the unit comprising an anode; a cathode; an isotope-treated, cation exchange membrane operatively disposed between the anode and cathode, the isotope-treated, cation exchange membrane having heavy water containing the isotope of hydrogen therein, the unit configured to receive the feedstream containing the single isotope of hydrogen; wherein the single isotope is deuterium or tritium and when the single isotope is deuterium, the heavy water comprises D.sub.2O and when the single isotope is tritium, the heavy water is T.sub.2O.

In an aspect, an electrochemical hydrogen isotope recycling apparatus for recycling a feedstream comprising a single isotope of hydrogen, comprising: an electrochemical recycling unit, the unit comprising an anode; a cathode; an isotope-treated, cation exchange membrane operatively disposed between the anode and cathode, the isotope-treated, cation exchange membrane having heavy water containing the isotope of hydrogen therein, the unit configured to receive the feedstream containing the single isotope of hydrogen; wherein the single isotope is deuterium or tritium and when the single isotope is deuterium, the heavy water comprises D.sub.2O and when the single isotope is tritium, the heavy water is T.sub.2O.

A method of making a multicomponent photocatalyst, includes inducing precipitation from a pre-cursor solution comprising a pre-cursor of a plasmonic material and a pre-cursor of a reactive component to form co-precipitated particles; collecting the co-precipitated particles; and annealing the co-precipitated particles to form the multicomponent photocatalyst comprising a reactive component optically, thermally, or electronically coupled to a plasmonic material.

A method of making a multicomponent photocatalyst, includes inducing precipitation from a pre-cursor solution comprising a pre-cursor of a plasmonic material and a pre-cursor of a reactive component to form co-precipitated particles; collecting the co-precipitated particles; and annealing the co-precipitated particles to form the multicomponent photocatalyst comprising a reactive component optically, thermally, or electronically coupled to a plasmonic material.

According to the present invention, water is separated into deuterium-depleted water and deuterium-concentrated water easily at low cost. Provided is a method for producing deuterium-depleted water by removing heavy water and semi-heavy water from water, the method including: supplying water vapor for a predetermined time period to an adsorbent material 11 obtained by adding to a carbon material one or more of metals belonging to Group 8 to Group 13 of the Periodic Table of Elements as additive metals and causing the water vapor to adsorb while passing through the adsorbent material 11; subsequently bringing protium gas into contact with the adsorbent material 11; and then desorbing and collecting the water vapor that has adsorbed to the adsorbent material 11.

Methods and systems for the separation of isotopes from an aqueous stream are described as can be utilized in one embodiment to remove and recover tritium from contaminated water. Methods include counter-current flow of an aqueous stream on either side of a separation membrane. The separation membrane includes an isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and an ion conductive supporting layer (e.g., Nafion). An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane to enrich the flow in the isotopes.

Methods and systems for the separation of isotopes from an aqueous stream are described as can be utilized in one embodiment to remove and recover tritium from contaminated water. Methods include counter-current flow of an aqueous stream on either side of a separation membrane. The separation membrane includes an isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and an ion conductive supporting layer (e.g., Nafion). An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane to enrich the flow in the isotopes.

Methods and systems directed to the separation of tritium from an aqueous stream are described. The separation method is a multi-stage method that includes a first stage during which tritium of a tritium-contaminated aqueous stream is adsorbed onto a separation phase, a second stage during which the adsorbed tritium is exchanged with hydrogen in a gaseous stream to provide a gaseous stream with a high tritium concentration, and a third stage during which the tritium of the gaseous stream is separated from the gaseous stream as a gaseous tritium product.

Methods and systems directed to the separation of tritium from an aqueous stream are described. The separation method is a multi-stage method that includes a first stage during which tritium of a tritium-contaminated aqueous stream is adsorbed onto a separation phase, a second stage during which the adsorbed tritium is exchanged with hydrogen in a gaseous stream to provide a gaseous stream with a high tritium concentration, and a third stage during which the tritium of the gaseous stream is separated from the gaseous stream as a gaseous tritium product.