Direct Decomposition Processing of Tritiated Methane by Helium RF Plasma. (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Katayama, Kazunari; Fukada, Satoshi
• Is Part Of: Fusion science and technology. Volume 71:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 426
• Page End: 431
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Plasma-induced decomposition -- tritiated hydrocarbon -- helium plasma; Fusion reactors -- Periodicals; Nuclear fusion -- Periodicals; Fusion reactors; Nuclear fusion; Periodicals; 621.48405
• DOI: 10.1080/15361055.2017.1293412
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1536-1055

Abstract

Abstract: With the aim of developing a method for the recovery of tritium from tritium-bearing hydrocarbons, it was shown experimentally that methane can be decomposed directly into hydrogen and carbon in RF plasmas via reactions initiated by electrons. Measurements performed with CH4 and CH3 T in a helium RF plasma indicate that the degree of decomposition of CH3 T is substantially smaller than that of CH4 . This is considered to be caused by a very low concentration of CH3 T. It was found that a majority of tritium dissociated from CH3 T is retained in the plasma reactor. However, a certain amount of retained tritium could be removed by a discharge-cleaning of oxygen.