ELECTROLYTIC ENRICHMENT METHOD FOR HEAVY WATER

摘要

An electrolytic enrichment method for heavy water includes enriching heavy water by electrolysis using an alkaline water electrolysis cell including an anode chamber that holds an anode, a cathode chamber that holds a cathode, and a diaphragm. In the method, an electrolyte prepared by adding high-concentration alkaline water to raw material water containing heavy water is circularly supplied to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber from a circulation tank; an anode-side gas-liquid separator and an anode-side water-seal device are connected to the anode chamber, and a cathode-side gas-liquid separator and a cathode-side water-seal device are connected to the cathode chamber; and electrolysis is continued while the alkali concentration in the electrolyte supplied to both electrolysis chambers is maintained at a constant concentration by circularly supplying, to the circulation tank, the electrolyte from which the gas generated from the anode-side gas-liquid separator and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator is separated.