S. Szpak et al., COMMENTS ON THE ANALYSIS OF TRITIUM CONTENT IN ELECTROCHEMICAL-CELLS, Journal of electroanalytical chemistry [1992], 373(1-2), 1994, pp. 1-9
Expressions are given for the tritium distribution between gas and liq
uid phases arising from prolonged electrolysis of D2O on Pd electrodes
saturated with absorbed deuterium. Errors associated with commonly em
ployed experimental procedures and their interpretation using a simple
model for the distribution between the gas and liquid phases are eval
uated. With regard to tritium production, an unambiguous resolution re
quires a complete mass balance. Conclusions based on partial data, suc
h as the measurement of the tritium content in a single cell component
(e.g. electrode, electrolyte or ''electrolytic'' gas phase), may be m
isleading, particularly if production rates are either low or intermit
tent.