Separation of hydrogen isotopes by chemical isotope exchange in systems involving metal and intermetallic compound hydrides

This article reviews and analyzes the results obtained by studying isotope effects and kinetics of isotope exchange in systems involving heavy hydroge n isotopes and intermetallic compound hydrides for the last 20 years. Parti cular attention is paid to the analysis of possibilities to realize the sep aration process in the hydrogen-hydride phase systems. it is shown that hyd rides of metals and intermetallic compounds represent suitable systems for solution of a number of hydrogen isotope separation problems, particularly for separation of tritium-containing gaseous mixtures. This article conside rs also the data on isotope effects, the rates of isotope exchange, and opt imization of conditions for hydrogen isotope separation by using metal and intermetallic compound hydrides.