Heavy Water Production

Heavy water is water where the hydrogen atoms are replaced with deuterium, a heavier isotope. Producing it involves separating deuterium from regular water, which contains mostly ordinary hydrogen. This is typically achieved through methods like electrolysis, where electrical current splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, and deuterium reacts differently than hydrogen. Another technique is distillation, exploiting slight differences in boiling points. These processes are energy-intensive and require precise technology. Heavy water is used mainly as a moderator in certain types of nuclear reactors because it efficiently slows down neutrons, enhancing the reactor’s ability to sustain nuclear reactions.