Patent attributes
An electrolytic enrichment method for heavy water includes enriching heavy water by electrolysis using an alkaline water electrolysis cell including an anode chamber that holds an anode, a cathode chamber that holds a cathode, and a diaphragm. In the method, an electrolyte prepared by adding high-concentration alkaline water to raw material water containing heavy water is circularly supplied to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber from a circulation tank; an anode-side gas-liquid separator and an anode-side water-seal device are connected to the anode chamber, and a cathode-side gas-liquid separator and a cathode-side water-seal device are connected to the cathode chamber; and electrolysis is continued while the alkali concentration in the electrolyte supplied to both electrolysis chambers is maintained at a constant concentration by circularly supplying, to the circulation tank, the electrolyte from which the gas generated from the anode-side gas-liquid separator and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator is separated.
