131756TRIBECA (TRItium detection By ElectroChemically Assisted radiometrics)ClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKTritium (T) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen made during routine operation of nuclear reactors. This can give rise to waterborne tritium (as tritiated water HTO) in nuclear facilities process and waste streams and tanks – all potential sources of leakage to ground. HTO behaves identically to H2O and so is highly mobile in both the environment and human tissue, with associated health risks on ingestion. There are therefore good safety, environmental & economic reasons for fast, accurate & precise measurement of tritium around nuclear sites. Tritium’s radiation is very weak, making its measurement by radiation detectors very difficult. We have devised a method by which tritium can be selectively absorbed by palladium metal from HTO, this pre-concentrated tritium then being easily detected by radiometric counting. Building on this innovation, we aim to explore the feasibility of building a palladium based tritium sensor that offers cheaper, faster, more sensitive and more relaiable tritium detection than current technology.