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DTRA’s advancements in nuclear and radiological detection
A new, more complex nuclear age has begun. Echoing the tensions of the Cold War amid rapidly evolving nuclear and radiological threats, preparedness in the modern age is a contest of scientific innovation. The Research and Development Directorate (RD) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is charged with winning this contest.
H. Noguchi, Clay E. Easterly, M. R. Bennett
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 16 | Number 2 | September 1989 | Pages 137-142
Technical Paper | Tritium System | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A29142
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The conversion reaction of tritium gas (T2) to tritiated water was studied experimentally at initial tritium concentrations between 9.6 × 10−3 and 48 GBq · m−3 (2.6 × 10−4 and 1.3 Ci · m−3) in air. Effects of water vapor and catalysts on the conversion reaction were also examined. Stainless steel, copper, paint, and platinum black were used as potential catalytic surfaces. First-order rate constants for the reaction in air are found to be independent of initial tritium concentration, and there is no effect from water vapor on the reaction. The conversion is insensitive to the presence or absence of stainless steel and copper. Paint sorbs T2 and HTO, but the latter is desorbed from the paint by heating. Platinum black produces the expected increase in the rate of reaction.