Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation

DETERMINATION OF THE DEUTERIUM CONCENTRATION FROM HEAVY WATER USING VIBRATIONAL DENSIMETRY METHOD

Gabriela Raducan, Iuliana Piciorea

¹National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICIT Rm. Valcea, code 240050 - Rm. Valcea, Uzinei 4, CP7 Raureni, Valcea, Romania, phone: 0040 250 736979,  fax: 0040 250 732746; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ABSTRACT

The vibrational densimetry method was used to determine the heavy water density with the deuterium concentration less then 99% D₂O mass, and an empirical relationship between heavy water density and the deuterium concentration was determined and verified. The deuterium concentration of heavy water samples was obtained using the gravimetric method. A vibrational densimeter was used to determine the density of the samples. This device is able to bring the sample at a preset temperature. The sample’s density was measured  at least 5 times and an average value was computed. The relationship between the deuterium concentration and the heavy water density is assumed to be a nonlinear equation which is of the form y=a-b/x. Building an equations system, the parameters were determined. Also, the uncertainity of the method was estimated. This value is too high compared with the uncertainity estimated with the IR spectroscopy method, so we can’t use this method in the range of deuterium concentrations higher than 99% D₂O mass, where it is necessary a very good measurement accuracy.

KEYWORDS: D₂O; heavy water; deuterium concentration, vibrational densimeter, uncertainty.