Tritium separation from parts-per-trillion-level water by a membrane with protonated manganese dioxide

This study shows a membrane containing a protonated manganese dioxide powder that is able to continually extract tritium from light water at room temperature. The method of using membrane-supplied protons through a proton conductive polymer film from acidic aqueous solution was remarkably effective at maintaining a continual extraction of tritium from light water, compared to the use of the protonated manganese dioxide powder alone. The extraction mechanism of tritium might be based on the prior oxidation of OT- at the interface of protonated manganese dioxide and water via neutralization between H+/T+ and OH-/OT-.