Hydrogen isotope exchange behavior of protonated lithium metal compounds

The exchange behaviors of hydrogen isotopes between protonated lithium metal compounds and deuterated water or tritiated water were investigated. The various protonated lithium metal compounds were prepared by acid treatment of lithium metal compounds with different crystal structures and metal compositions. The protonated lithium metal compounds could more effectively reduce the deuterium concentration in water compared with the corresponding pristine lithium metal compounds. The H+ in the protonated lithium metal compounds was speculated to be more readily exchangeable with hydrons in the aqueous solution compared with Li+ in the pristine lithium metal compounds, and the exchanged heavier isotopes were speculated to be more stably retained in the crystal structure compared with the light protons. When the tritiated water (157.7 kBq/kg) was reacted with the protonated lithium metal compounds, the protonated lithium manganese nickel cobalt oxide was found to adsorb and retain twice as much tritium (163.9 Bq/g) as the protonated lithium manganese oxide (69.9 Bq/g) and the protonated lithium cobalt oxide (75.1 Bq/g) in the equilibrium state. (C) 2021 Korean Nuclear Society, Published by Elsevier Korea LLC.

Automated summary

Protonated lithium metal compounds, prepared by acid treatment of lithium metal compounds, were found to effectively reduce deuterium concentration in water. The H+ in protonated lithium metal compounds can exchange more readily with hydrons in water compared to Li+ in pristine lithium metal compounds, and heavier isotopes are speculated to be more stably retained in the crystal structure. Protonated lithium manganese nickel cobalt oxide was observed to adsorb and retain twice as much tritium as protonated lithium manganese oxide and protonated lithium cobalt oxide in equilibrium state when reacted with tritiated water.