Radiochemical measurements of tritium during heavy water electrolysis at palladium cathodes in closed cells

Closed cell electrolysis of heavy water at palladium cathodes was maintained for 100 days by the catalytic recombination of evolved gases. Closed cell operation eliminated several experimental complications including electrolytic isotope separation effects. This allowed for the detection of tritium accumulation at a level two orders of magnitude below that cited by Fleischmann, Pons, and Hawkins as evidence for cold fusion. Closed cell electrolysis of alkaline heavy water was performed in six cells with several variations in palladium cathode pretreatment, anode type, cell vessel material, electrolyte preparation, and current density. In each case, light water control cells were operated under otherwise identical conditions. Under conditions close to those under which cold fusion phenomena have been reported, radiochemical measurements have indicated no accumulation of tritium.