ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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.
Glen R. Longhurst, Roland A. Jalbert, Richard L. Rossmassler
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 1331-1336
Tritium Technology | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39873
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An investigation of the performance of atmospheric detritiation systems and of possible ways for improving their performance was undertaken. Small-scale experiments demonstrated that system performance is strongly dependent on catalyst bed temperature. That may be helped by addition of protium to the process gas stream, but added protium at constant temperature does not increase conversion to HTO. Collection of the HTO on dry sieve with residual HTO fraction of less than one part in 107 was observed. Ways suggested for improvement in collection of HTO on molecular sieve beds include adding H2O to the stream entering the molecular sieve and premoistening of the sieve with H2O. While these improvement schemes may reduce HTO emissions they increase the amount of tritiated waste that must be handled.