Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

Hongqiang Li

Sellathurai Suppiah

Andrew Donald Kettner

Lorne Stolberg

Keith Kutchcoskie

Hugh Boniface

Ian Castillo

Nirmal Gnanapragasam

Alexi Shkarupin

Andrew Kettner

The invention relates to isotope separation methods, and methods for separating isotopes with low energy consumption, demonstrated using hydrogen isotopes. Also described are methods for enriching or depleting the isotope present in the hydrogen gas/vapour feed e.g. for tritium removal, tritium enrichment and deuterium enrichment, by arranging a series of cells in a cascaded configuration.

Low-energy electrochemical separation of isotopes

An electrochemical cell for producing hydrogen gas and cupric chloride. The cell comprises: an anode compartment comprising an anode for disposition in an anolyte, wherein the anolyte is cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid; a cathode compartment comprising a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises an electrocatalyst; a plurality of ion exchange membranes disposed between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment; and at least one center compartment defined by a pair of said ion exchange membranes and comprising at least one element for removal or sequestering of copper ions that cross at least one of said membranes from the anode compartment. Also described is a method for CuCl/HCl electrolysis in the production of hydrogen using the electrochemical cell.

Electrolysis cell with multiple membranes for CuCl/HCI electrolysis in hydrogen production

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Deep River, Canada

Hongqiang Li