Magnetically confined microwave ECR plasma assisted study on radiochemical reaction of tritium and carbon monoxide

Tritium induced radiochemical reaction between hydrogen and carbon monoxide was investigated with the aid of ECR plasma reaction. The results show that long-chain organics such as C(4)Q(10), C(5)Q(12) and C(6)Q(14) were formed in DT-CO mixture without any catalyst, and short-chain organics were the reactants to long-chain organics. CH4, C2H2 and C2H4 were detected in the plasma reaction of hydrogen and carbon monoxide mixture, but no C3+ organics were found. This study revealed that the dominant process of the tritium induced reactions mainly caused by the free radicals produced by beta-rays from tritium decay. The fracture of C-H bonds promotes the carbon chain growth, while the breakage of C-C bonds inhibits the growth of organic carbon chain.