Hydrogen isotope separation in “trapdoor” chabazite as measured by a novel sonic gas sensor

Lawrence Shere; Niklas Beere; Rosemary Brown; Timothy J. Mays; Semali P. Perera; Alfred K. Hill

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152753

Hydrogen isotope separation in “trapdoor” chabazite as measured by a novel sonic gas sensor

Lawrence Shere
, Niklas Beere
, Rosemary Brown
, Timothy J. Mays
, Semali P. Perera
, Alfred K. Hill

Culham Science Centre

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Clean energy from nuclear fusion will require efficient technologies for hydrogen isotope separation. Separation by adsorption has shown high isotope selectivity, but only at impracticably low temperatures (<100 K). In this paper, the D ₂/H ₂ hydrogen isotope selectivity of ‘trapdoor’ chabazite is measured for the first time and compared to zeolite 5A, zeolite 3A, HKUST-1 and MOF-74(Ni). H ₂ and D ₂ isotherms for potassium chabazite show that between 143 and 195 K, H ₂ adsorption is selectively blocked leading to high ideal isotope selectivity (D ₂/H ₂ = 1.83 at 143 K). Adsorption hysteresis is measured for the first time in trapdoor chabazite and zeolite 3A at similar temperatures which indicates trapdoor behaviour. An innovative breakthrough setup is developed including a whistle gas density sensor for deuterium detection. The D ₂/H ₂ separation factor of Na–K chabazite from frontal breakthrough is 2.71 at 159 K, which is much higher than for zeolite 5A at 1.25 at 159 K and 1.7 at 77 K.

Original language	English
Article number	152753
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	199
Early online date	4 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152753
Publication status	Published - 9 Jan 2026

Funding

This research is supported by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the H3AT division.

Funders
UK Atomic Energy Authority

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Breakthrough testing
Chabazite zeolite
H isotherm
Hydrogen isotope separation
Trapdoor mechanism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Condensed Matter Physics
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152753Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Hydrogen isotope separation in “trapdoor” chabazite as measured by a novel sonic gas sensor",

abstract = "Clean energy from nuclear fusion will require efficient technologies for hydrogen isotope separation. Separation by adsorption has shown high isotope selectivity, but only at impracticably low temperatures (<100 K). In this paper, the D 2/H 2 hydrogen isotope selectivity of {\textquoteleft}trapdoor{\textquoteright} chabazite is measured for the first time and compared to zeolite 5A, zeolite 3A, HKUST-1 and MOF-74(Ni). H 2 and D 2 isotherms for potassium chabazite show that between 143 and 195 K, H 2 adsorption is selectively blocked leading to high ideal isotope selectivity (D 2/H 2 = 1.83 at 143 K). Adsorption hysteresis is measured for the first time in trapdoor chabazite and zeolite 3A at similar temperatures which indicates trapdoor behaviour. An innovative breakthrough setup is developed including a whistle gas density sensor for deuterium detection. The D 2/H 2 separation factor of Na–K chabazite from frontal breakthrough is 2.71 at 159 K, which is much higher than for zeolite 5A at 1.25 at 159 K and 1.7 at 77 K.",

keywords = "Breakthrough testing, Chabazite zeolite, H isotherm, Hydrogen isotope separation, Trapdoor mechanism",

author = "Lawrence Shere and Niklas Beere and Rosemary Brown and Mays, \{Timothy J.\} and Perera, \{Semali P.\} and Hill, \{Alfred K.\}",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152753",

language = "English",

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journal = "International Journal of Hydrogen Energy",

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T1 - Hydrogen isotope separation in “trapdoor” chabazite as measured by a novel sonic gas sensor

AU - Shere, Lawrence

AU - Beere, Niklas

AU - Brown, Rosemary

AU - Mays, Timothy J.

AU - Perera, Semali P.

AU - Hill, Alfred K.

PY - 2026/1/9

Y1 - 2026/1/9

N2 - Clean energy from nuclear fusion will require efficient technologies for hydrogen isotope separation. Separation by adsorption has shown high isotope selectivity, but only at impracticably low temperatures (<100 K). In this paper, the D 2/H 2 hydrogen isotope selectivity of ‘trapdoor’ chabazite is measured for the first time and compared to zeolite 5A, zeolite 3A, HKUST-1 and MOF-74(Ni). H 2 and D 2 isotherms for potassium chabazite show that between 143 and 195 K, H 2 adsorption is selectively blocked leading to high ideal isotope selectivity (D 2/H 2 = 1.83 at 143 K). Adsorption hysteresis is measured for the first time in trapdoor chabazite and zeolite 3A at similar temperatures which indicates trapdoor behaviour. An innovative breakthrough setup is developed including a whistle gas density sensor for deuterium detection. The D 2/H 2 separation factor of Na–K chabazite from frontal breakthrough is 2.71 at 159 K, which is much higher than for zeolite 5A at 1.25 at 159 K and 1.7 at 77 K.

AB - Clean energy from nuclear fusion will require efficient technologies for hydrogen isotope separation. Separation by adsorption has shown high isotope selectivity, but only at impracticably low temperatures (<100 K). In this paper, the D 2/H 2 hydrogen isotope selectivity of ‘trapdoor’ chabazite is measured for the first time and compared to zeolite 5A, zeolite 3A, HKUST-1 and MOF-74(Ni). H 2 and D 2 isotherms for potassium chabazite show that between 143 and 195 K, H 2 adsorption is selectively blocked leading to high ideal isotope selectivity (D 2/H 2 = 1.83 at 143 K). Adsorption hysteresis is measured for the first time in trapdoor chabazite and zeolite 3A at similar temperatures which indicates trapdoor behaviour. An innovative breakthrough setup is developed including a whistle gas density sensor for deuterium detection. The D 2/H 2 separation factor of Na–K chabazite from frontal breakthrough is 2.71 at 159 K, which is much higher than for zeolite 5A at 1.25 at 159 K and 1.7 at 77 K.

KW - Breakthrough testing

KW - Chabazite zeolite

KW - H isotherm

KW - Hydrogen isotope separation

KW - Trapdoor mechanism

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DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152753

M3 - Article

SN - 0360-3199

VL - 199

JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

M1 - 152753

ER -

Hydrogen isotope separation in “trapdoor” chabazite as measured by a novel sonic gas sensor

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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