Deuterium Oxide

Deuterium Oxide

Deuterium Oxide also known “heavy water” or “deuterium water”, molecule composed of two atoms of Deuterium and one atom of Oxygen. That’s the form of water that contains two atoms of the ²H, or D, isotope, because its density is greater than H₂O, and its chemical formula is D₂O. Used for water in which ²H atoms replace only some of the ¹H atoms. High purity Deuterium Oxide (99.8% – 99.9% purity), also known as Heavy Water. Rapid exchange between the two isotopes forms twice as many “semiheavy” HDO molecules as D₂O. Deuterium is an isotope of Hydrogen. When the Hydrogen atoms are replaced with Deuterium, you’ve got Heavy water. As in a molecule of ‘normal’ water, two Hydrogen atoms are bound to an Oxygen atom. 

The difference between a reaction rate in D₂O solvent versus that in H₂O often provides clues as to the reaction’s mechanism. You can easily make pure Deuterium gas for Fusor experiments, etc. by running DC current through it and collecting the gas (electrolysis). Unlike the other isotope of Hydrogen known as Tritium, Deuterium is not radioactive. About 10% heavier than ordinary water, used to moderate Neutrons in nuclear reactors. For decades, D₂O has been extremely useful in many chemical applications. It is somewhat slower evaporating than ordinary water and occasionally used in formulations where a slower evaporation time is useful. This is especially important if water is one of the reactants. An ice cube made of Deuterium Oxide sinks in normal water.

Applications & Uses Of Deuterium Oxide

• It is used to increases the half-life of the pharmaceutical agent often favourably affecting the pharmacokinetics of the drug.
• Deuteration may also change the pathway of drug metabolism (metabolic switching). Changed metabolism may lead to increased duration of action and lower toxicity.
• It is routinely used in the process of heavy water electrolysis for the production of deuterium gas that is essential for semiconductor industries.
• It can be used as vaccine stabilizing reagent.
• Transistor lifetime improvements by factors of 10-50 have been reported.
• In optical fibers deuterium extracted from D₂O and deposited to Si reduces the absorption losses by shifting them to the 1620nm wavelength, which is outside of normal operating range, greatly enhancing the optical fiber service life and efficiency.
• DeutraMed further supports customers who require reduced bioburden in their D₂O by offering BioPureᵀᴹ product. Learn more about BioPureTM D₂O here.