Recovery of Tritium from Pharmaceutical Mixed Waste Liquids

A facility to recover tritium from liquid waste streams generated by the pharmaceutical industry in their drug development programs has been designed and fabricated and is in various stages of completion. This facility comprises four units: oxidation, water purification, electrolysis, and isotope separation. The oxidation system has been fully commissioned. The water purification system has been designed but not yet constructed. The electrolysis system has been installed, and final acceptance commissioning completed. Functional testing of the isotope separation system is underway. The entire facility is expected to process active materials in mid 2002.