SORPTION OF TRITIUM AND TRITIATED-WATER ON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Sorption and desorption of tritium (HT) and tritiated water (HTO) on materials to be used in the construction of fusion facilities were studied. In ca. 24-hour exposures in argon or room air, metal samples sorbed 8-200-mu-Ci/m2 (1 Ci = 3.7 x 10(10) Bq) of tritium from atmospheres of 5-9 Ci/m3 HT, and non-metallic samples sorbed 60-800-mu-Ci/m2 from atmospheres of 14 Ci/m3 HT. Sorption of HTO varied much more widely than HT sorption for different samples, ranging from 4-mu-Ci/m2 for glass to 1 300 000-mu-Ci/m2 for concrete samples, in 24-hour exposures to 1 Ci/m3 HTO in room air. Time dependence of desorption in dry air showed a rapid initial process and a slower secondary process.