Distribution and movement of tritium in an ion exchanger-water system

The study of the behavior of hydrogen in ion exchange columns is of theoretical and practical interest. This problem can be solved by using tritium as radioactive hydrogen tracer. The present paper describes the first results obtained in an experimental study of the statics and dynamics of the distribution and movement of tritium in an ion exchanger-water system.The materials studied were Ku-2 cation exchange resin in the H- and Sr-forms, and AN-2F and AV-17 anion exchange resins in the Cl-form. The isotopic effects in the distribution of tritium have been estimated. It has been shown that tritium is concentrated to a greater extent in the water than in the resin. Study of the filtration of water labeled with tritium in ion exchange columns has established that, as a result of isotopic exchange sorption, the rate of movement of the water front labeled with tritium is less than the rate of flow of water. The effluent curves have been interpreted theoretically on the basis of the general theory of the dynamics of sorption, and values for the constants of the dynamics of sorption have been estimated.