deuterium enrichment

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byron addams
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deuterium enrichment

Post by byron addams »

I live in the uk and deuterium and D2O are extremely restricted and imposiple to buy. does anyone have anny information about the creation and enrichment of deuterium or D2O.
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Thank you
Byron
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Mark Rowley
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Re: deuterium enrichment

Post by Mark Rowley »

I’ve yet to see any amateur extract usable (for fusors) amounts of D2O from ordinary water. The amount of water, electricity, and infrastructure to do so would be comparatively enormous to traveling somewhere in Europe to buy a few ounces.

I’ve seen a few attempts on YouTube with either negative or very dubious results.

Mark Rowley
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byron addams
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Re: deuterium enrichment

Post by byron addams »

i dont think they would let me on a plane with a bottle of D2O
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John Futter
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Re: deuterium enrichment

Post by John Futter »

Re-label it water
after all that is what it is
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Jim Kovalchick
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Re: deuterium enrichment

Post by Jim Kovalchick »

John Futter, LOL. Let's see them prove otherwise.
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Rich Feldman
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Re: deuterium enrichment

Post by Rich Feldman »

Re. enriching natural hydrogen or water:
No process (except mass spectrometry) discriminates absolutely between D and H.
You can get partial enrichment per pass, and need many passes to get substantially pure D.
The formulas have a familiar place in the curriculum for Chemical Engineering.

Harold Urey's discovery of deuterium in 1931, by spotting a faint spur at predicted place on the edge of an optical spectrum line, makes an interesting story.
They had an idea of the natural concentration, from measured atomic weight of hydrogen.
Tried enrichment by letting liquid H2 boil off.
Unfortunately, they started with H2 that was depleted, because it had been prepared by electrolysis of water.
All models are wrong; some models are useful. -- George Box
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Richard Hull
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Re: deuterium enrichment

Post by Richard Hull »

For the amateur, proving you have H20 vs. D20 can be expensive. A simple, moderately inexpensive, but not conclusive test is the freezing point/melting points using a highly calibrated thermometer. Of course, we have our fusors to tell the tale after the PEM cell electrolyzes the liquid.

Richard Hull
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Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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Jim Kovalchick
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Re: deuterium enrichment

Post by Jim Kovalchick »

Once you very the sample is pure and not carrying around dissolved material, simply check density. After all, heavy water is, well, heavy. It's 11% denser than natural water.
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Dennis P Brown
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Re: deuterium enrichment

Post by Dennis P Brown »

First off, check what the legal aspects of bringing in heavy water (declare and pay duties if so required); some places have laws that can be rather unpleasant if you violate them so do confirm this before finding out the hard way. If it is legal, simply put in luggage (not carry on for aircraft!) Make sure it has proper (original markings and any paperwork if available) so no one can claim you are doing anything illegal. We here at fusor.net respect all laws and rules. It is possible that small amounts are allowed.
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