Ontario-based, Isowater, takes aim at heavy water market
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Company says its deuterium oxide production method will reduce emissions by 95 per cent
COLLINGWOOD, Ont.—Isowater Corp., an Ontario-based company that focuses on supplying hydrogen isotopes to the global market has announced the completion of a $3.2 million project designed to advance its method of producing deuterium oxide.
Deuterium oxide, or heavy water, is a key component in the nuclear industry and is experiencing growing demand in the life sciences, high tech industries and environmental technologies. As demand ramps up, the company noted the availability of heavy water has declined over the past decade.
The company said ts D2X process, can be built on a much smaller scale than traditional methods and produce heavy water at costs below new builds of current production technology. Isowater’s method also cuts the greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional production by 95 per cent and eliminates sulfur and ammonia byproducts entirely.
“We are most pleased with the results of our D2X Process development,” Andrew Stuart, president and CEO of Isowater, said. “As the world supply of deuterium oxide shifts to shortage, our process will provide a scalable method to produce high purity deuterium oxide to the growing non- nuclear users and eventually the nuclear energy market.”
“The nature of Isowater’s process also is suitable for private sector implementation as opposed to historic technology which has been financed and operated by governments based on their nuclear energy policies,” he added.
The company pointed to markets such as semiconductors, fibre optics, pharmaceuticals, medical procedures, health and beauty products, research applications, and hydrology as key markets for deuterium oxide. It noted world supply to date has been funded solely by government entities based on their strategic energy policy.
“An important role for private sector innovation and leadership has emerged to ensure a secure long term future supply for non-nuclear users that is independent of government nuclear energy policy and spending decisions,” the company said.
The D2X project was funded with contributions from Isowater, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, a large international chemical company and a global industrial gas firm.
