Light water production methods

Light water is traditionally produced by using electrolysis of NaOH or KOH solutions. Usually from these solutions is used 25% of water and the received hydrogen is burned catalytically into water. The received light water is used to make a new solution and the electrolysis is performed second time. This electrolysis method with a separation factor of 8 can decrease the deuterium content in the produced hydrogen so much that after second stage in the obtained water the heavy water content is below 1 ppm. (see in: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1935, 57 (3), pp 484–486)

It must be noted, that actually the interest of separating water into heavy and light fractions was mainly connoted with production of heavy water fraction, so the main methods in here were developed for that purpose. Light hydrogen gas, released during electrolysis, was always considered as a by-product.

Light hydrogen (with low deuterium content) can be produced also using sodium amalgam.  An important industrial technology for the production of sodium hydroxide is the aqueous decomposition of sodium amalgam which is formed during the electrolysis of sodium chloride. In the decomposition process a large amount of hydrogen gas is formed as well:

Na + nH₂O = Na⁺ + OH^- + 1/2H₂ + (n - 1)H₂O

During this reaction in the released gaseous hydrogen deuterium content is below 50 ppm (see in: Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1999, 38, pp. 2425-2427). The authors of this research consider their method as a perspective one for large scale production of light water.

At present a new electrolysis based method is developed which is allowing decrease the deuterium content in the water 5 times (see in: Y. Sinyak et. al, Acta Astronautica 52, 2003, pp.575 – 580 ). This technology was developed by the Institute of Medical and Biological Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences for producing deuterium-free drinking water for Mars mission spaceship crew.

In 1930’s some laboratories already began conducting biological studies with light water. However the turning point in this area can be considered the first detailed studies on serious role of light and heavy water on growth of cells. These studies were conducted in Hungary by Dr. Gabor Somalyai. After their first report of experimental results (see in: Somlyai, et al., "Naturally occurring deuterium is essential for the normal growth rate of cells", FEBS Lett. 1993, 317, pp. 1-4) the interest in using light water for medical purposes increased drastically and at present light water production is realized in commercial quantities  

Properties of Light /Heavy Water

Water – isotopic variations  

The usual natural water consists of nine stable isotope connections

            ¹H₂¹⁶O,              ¹H₂¹⁷O,             ¹H₂¹⁸O, 

            ²D₂¹⁶O,              ²D₂¹⁷O,             ²D₂¹⁸O,

            ¹H ¹⁶O ²D,         ¹H ¹⁷O ²D,        ¹H ¹⁸O ²D

in which there are two stable isotopes of hydrogen - protium (¹H) and deuterium (²D). Taking into account a radioactive isotope of hydrogen - tritium (³T ) -  the number of isotope variants of water molecules will equal to 18. Note: Oxygen has also a number of radioactive isotopes (from ¹²O up to ²⁵O), so the total number of water molecule variations is much bigger. As we can see, the molecular weight of water can vary between 14 and 31 atomic weight units, however the stable molecules have weight from 18 to 22 units only. So in the future under “light water” we’ll assume ¹H₂¹⁶O molecules when it’s molecular weight equals to 18.  There are 8 “heavy water” molecules, however in the future I’ll focus more attention on heavy/light molecule reparations where hydrogen ¹H atoms are replaced with twice heavier ²D deuterium atoms.

By the way, internationally accepted water isotope standards actually are based on defining the deuterium content in the water molecules, too.

Water Isotope Standards are defining the isotopic composition of water. Here are the main standards :

• VSMOW – Vienna Standard of Mean Ocean Water:

                      D/H     =   (155,76 ± 0,5) × 10^-6   or  ≈ 156 ppm

                            ¹⁸O/¹⁶O   =   (2005,2 ± 4,5) × 10^-6  or  ≈  2005 ppm 

• GISP – Water standard from Greenland ice:

                      D/H     =     (124,6 ± 0,5) × 10^-6   or   ≈ 124,5 ppm 

• SLAP – (Standard Light Antarctic Precipitation) Water standard from Arctic ice:

                D/H    =      (90,5 ± 1,0) × 10^-6      or      ≈ 90,5 ppm

 Some Physical Properties of Heavy Water

It’s well known that physical-chemical properties of heavy water are totally different from properties of usual water: boiling temperature of heavy water is +101,4°С, the freezing point equals to +3,81°С and it has 10% higher density.

Needs to note, that heavy water is probably fully Earth born product – in outer space it was not registered. Deuterium is formed from protium after it captured neutron from cosmic radiation. World Ocean, polar and mountain ice, atmospheric moisture are the main natural “factories” of deuterium production.

When autumn comes to northern regions, the water in rivers began cooling down. This process is accelerated under influence of permafrost. Finally the water density reaches its maximum value - at temperature slightly below 4^oC. This is a critical moment while after it in some areas of the bottom zone loose underwater ice is intensively formed.

Unlike normal ice, it has no regular crystal lattice, it has a different structure. The crystallization centers of this ice can be rocks, snags, and various irregularities, not necessarily lying on the bottom and associated with permafrost. The loose ice is formed in deep rivers with calm laminar flow.

The underwater ice formation usually ends with the ice float to the surface, although at this time no other ice around. Underwater ice sometimes can be seen even in summer. The question arises: what kind of "water” is in the water, which changes its aggregate state when temperature in the river is too high to turn ordinary water into ice, so that, as physicists say, there was a phase transition?

It’s well known that loose frazil ice appears first and melts last. We can assume that loose ice has higher concentration of heavy water than usual ice. Only the presence of such concentrations may explain the proven fact that in winter in northern waters the percentage of deuterium is noticeably reduced. Polar waters, as it is shown by tests, are with low deuterium concentration too. Moreover, the tests have proved that the ice and  ice cover in high latitudes have higher deuterium content than the waters around them.  

Need to remember that heavy water is indistinguishable from normal, but its consumption inside the organism can cause severe poisoning. Not surprisingly, local people in high-latitude regions do not use river ice for cooking - only lake ice or snow.

See also in:

http://www.o8ode.ru/article/oleg/tagelaa_voda_i_gizn.htm (in Russian)

Water in Universe

Water is considered as the most important chemical substance for existence of life in Universe. At present this seems to be an indubitable condition, at least it seems is absolutely correct for existence of life on the Earth.

Like all creatures on our planet we use water, too. The only difference from other creatures is that we understand the importance of water purity. We wish our drinking water is free of harmful microbes and toxic chemicals and, at the same time, we usually prefer water containing some reasonable amounts of minerals; we call it mineral water - it tastes better and even some types can be recommended by doctors. But are the purity factor and/or the mineral content the only criteria’s by which we have to sort water?

It’s very usual to hear in the news reports phrases like “heavy water” and/or “heavy water production plant”. This kind of information is usually associated with nuclear power plants, so if our businesses are far from nuclear energy and/or connected with it international relations, then most of us will never pay attention on the meaning of “heavy water”. Meanwhile existence of heavy water automatically assumed the existence of light water, too.

So which water we are consuming and/or have to consume? Are there any real health related risks and or benefits while consuming different waters? Is it true that Deuterium Depleted Water (so called “light water”) can cure cancer?  These questions are of a great importance however our awareness in this area is in quite low level. This is the main reason I have decided to open this blog where I’ll try giving more information about light and heavy water, their place and role in our life. Here I’ll post mainly information taken from scientific research and or clinical test reports, so it will be presented with reference to its original source. At the same time I’ll be very thankful if we can share similar information through this blog and have discussions on these subjects, too. Such a creative atmosphere will be beneficial for all of us.