The tritium breeders for a fusion reactor, LiAlOo, and Li^SiOi, are compared on a thennocheniical basis in respect to their response to protium purging. Two oxygen activity levels, established by H20:H2 ratios of 100: 1 and 1:1CO are considered at the temperatures 900 and 13Q0K. In terms of tritium release (all gaseous forms). LiAlO2 is bettar than Li2O and this in turn better than LiiSiOi. At 900K, L:;0 and LiAl^o release nor" tritior. than at 130GK. Li^SiOr eleases more tritium st I3C0K Chan

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... t 9C0K. INTRODUCTION- In a previous paper,1 ve compared the calculated thermochenical performance of tha three fusion reactor triti-jn breeders, 1.12°. LiAlO2, ar.ri Li^SiO^. That srix'y considered only the "pure" systems, chat is, the oxidic mattiis! plus the bt£d rritiira. The effects of protiur., either ts an inp-jrity or as a deliberately a<?. de<i reagent were not rxpiored. The intentional introductiir. of pros-iim, which w« term prciimr. purging, is «3 technique to enhance the rr'ecse of tritium, kinetically ana thermodynamically, by exchange of protium with tritium-bearing species on and ir. fVse breeder. Protium has been used for this purpose in some irradiation and tritium-recovery experiments but in a functioning fusion reactor the purga agent would mor» likely be deuteriu:-.. We addresser protium purging i:: i. paper' which d?alt with only LijO and with, the thennodynaroic (rtoc kinetic) aspects. For LijO, the conclusion was that protium purging can eahance tritium release, compared to a protiumfree situation, but that exr.Hssiva introduction of protiun u:ider :;oirie conditions, below pbouf. 1000-1300K, can be counter-productive; retention rather th*n release can be enhanced.