Tritium gas exchange with aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons over metal containing ZSM-5 and related zeolites

Abstract

Platinum and palladium containing Y-zeolite, mordenite and ZSM-5 catalyse efficient exchange at 100°C between elemental tritium and aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons, the tritium orientation in the organic molecule showing characteristics of both metal and zeolite catalysis. The hydrogen forms of the same zeolites (i.e. without metal) also activate elemental tritium for aromatic exchange at 120-150ºC, which shows that a metal component is not necessary for activation of elemental hydrogen even at modest temperatures.