Utilizing the fact that a predetermined adsorbent adsorbs light water at an initial desorption rate higher than heavy water and semi-heavy water, deuterium depleted water having a reduced concentration of heavy water and semi-heavy water is produced easily and in a short time.

A method for producing deuterium depleted water by removing heavy water and semi-heavy water from water, the method including: a desorption process in which a relative pressure around a predetermined adsorbent with adsorbed water vapor is reduced, and in which water vapor desorbed from the adsorbent is recovered during a period of time when a desorption rate of light water>a desorption rate of the heavy water and semi-heavy water.

Utilizing the fact that a predetermined adsorbent adsorbs light water at an initial desorption rate higher than heavy water and semi-heavy water, deuterium depleted water having a reduced concentration of heavy water and semi-heavy water is produced easily and in a short time.

A method for producing deuterium depleted water by removing heavy water and semi-heavy water from water, the method including: a desorption process in which a relative pressure around a predetermined adsorbent with adsorbed water vapor is reduced, and in which water vapor desorbed from the adsorbent is recovered during a period of time when a desorption rate of light water>a desorption rate of the heavy water and semi-heavy water.

Water-based compositions suitable for the hydration of a mammal, and particularly hydration of a human by oral or topical methods, and for industrial uses such as cooling, and the making of solutions and mixtures. A method for producing a beverage, an industrial process water, an industrial solvent, or topical dermatological composition includes: providing a water source, the water molecules having oxygen or hydrogen atoms of different isotopes, (i) fractionating the water source to produce a fraction enriched in water molecules having an abundance of at least one of the oxygen or hydrogen isotopes being greater or less than the abundance found in the water source, or (ii) where the water source is already enriched in heavy water, fully or partially maintaining the level of enrichment.

Water-based compositions suitable for the hydration of a mammal, and particularly hydration of a human by oral or topical methods, and for industrial uses such as cooling, and the making of solutions and mixtures. A method for producing a beverage, an industrial process water, an industrial solvent, or topical dermatological composition includes: providing a water source, the water molecules having oxygen or hydrogen atoms of different isotopes, (i) fractionating the water source to produce a fraction enriched in water molecules having an abundance of at least one of the oxygen or hydrogen isotopes being greater or less than the abundance found in the water source, or (ii) where the water source is already enriched in heavy water, fully or partially maintaining the level of enrichment.

An electrochemical hydrogen isotope concentrating apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inlet stream of the hydrogen isotope to be concentrated. The apparatus also includes an electrochemical cell that includes a hydron exchange membrane containing hydrons of the hydrogen isotope, an anode on a first side of the hydron exchange membrane in fluid communication with the inlet stream, a cathode on a second side of the hydron exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit connection between the anode and the cathode. The apparatus further includes two outlet streams: a first outlet stream of the hydrogen isotope in fluid communication with the cathode, and a second outlet stream depleted of the hydrogen isotope in fluid communication with the anode.

The present invention provides a method for enriching an oxygen isotope which enables the oxygen isotope to be enriched without requiring regular replenishment of large amounts of the nitric oxide raw material and with a small liquid NO hold-up volume, without reducing the separation efficiency for the oxygen isotope. By performing a chemical exchange between a water acquired by adding hydrogen to an oxygen having a crudely enriched oxygen isotope produced by a first distillation device, and a nitric oxide discharged from a second distillation device, a nitric oxide having an enriched concentration of the oxygen isotope and a water having a reduced concentration of the oxygen isotope are obtained, and the nitric oxide is supplied to the second distillation device, while an oxygen obtained by electrolysis of the water having a reduced concentration of the oxygen isotope is returned to the first distillation device.

The present invention provides a method for enriching an oxygen isotope which enables the oxygen isotope to be enriched without requiring regular replenishment of large amounts of the nitric oxide raw material and with a small liquid NO hold-up volume, without reducing the separation efficiency for the oxygen isotope. By performing a chemical exchange between a water acquired by adding hydrogen to an oxygen having a crudely enriched oxygen isotope produced by a first distillation device, and a nitric oxide discharged from a second distillation device, a nitric oxide having an enriched concentration of the oxygen isotope and a water having a reduced concentration of the oxygen isotope are obtained, and the nitric oxide is supplied to the second distillation device, while an oxygen obtained by electrolysis of the water having a reduced concentration of the oxygen isotope is returned to the first distillation device.

An electrolytic enrichment method for heavy water includes enriching heavy water by electrolysis using an alkaline water electrolysis cell including an anode chamber that holds an anode, a cathode chamber that holds a cathode, and a diaphragm. In the method, an electrolyte prepared by adding high-concentration alkaline water to raw material water containing heavy water is circularly supplied to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber from a circulation tank; an anode-side gas-liquid separator and an anode-side water-seal device are connected to the anode chamber, and a cathode-side gas-liquid separator and a cathode-side water-seal device are connected to the cathode chamber; and electrolysis is continued while the alkali concentration in the electrolyte supplied to both electrolysis chambers is maintained at a constant concentration by circularly supplying, to the circulation tank, the electrolyte from which the gas generated from the anode-side gas-liquid separator and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator is separated.

An electrolytic enrichment method for heavy water includes enriching heavy water by electrolysis using an alkaline water electrolysis cell including an anode chamber that holds an anode, a cathode chamber that holds a cathode, and a diaphragm. In the method, an electrolyte prepared by adding high-concentration alkaline water to raw material water containing heavy water is circularly supplied to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber from a circulation tank; an anode-side gas-liquid separator and an anode-side water-seal device are connected to the anode chamber, and a cathode-side gas-liquid separator and a cathode-side water-seal device are connected to the cathode chamber; and electrolysis is continued while the alkali concentration in the electrolyte supplied to both electrolysis chambers is maintained at a constant concentration by circularly supplying, to the circulation tank, the electrolyte from which the gas generated from the anode-side gas-liquid separator and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator is separated.

Provided herein are products for consumers comprising a greater than naturally-occurring amount of deuterium oxide.