Studies of hydrogen isotope separation using vanadium hydride in a temperature cycling process

Separations of gaseous HT-H/sub 2/ mixtures on vanadium monohydride were carried out using a two-column temperature cycling process similar to parametric pumping. An equilibrium theory of process operation is presented which was in qualitative agreement with experimental results. Failure to achieve complete removal of HT from the cold column effluent as predicted was ascribed to the finite rates of the exchange reaction and to the presence and operation of an isotope effect in the rate of hydrogen absorption