This article reviews and analyzes the results obtained by studying isotope effects and kinetics of isotope exchange in systems involving heavy hydrogen isotopes and intermetallic compound hydrides for the last 20 years. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of possibilities to realize the separation process in the hydrogen-hydride phase systems. it is shown that hydrides of metals and intermetallic compounds represent suitable systems for solution of a number of hydrogen isotope separation problems, particularly for separation of tritium-containing gaseous mixtures. This article considers also the data on isotope effects, the rates of isotope exchange, and optimization of conditions for hydrogen isotope separation by using metal and intermetallic compound hydrides.