Canadian partnership to support heavy water industry

Monday, 12 May 2025

A new strategic partnership will see Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) leverage Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL) extensive intellectual property related to the upgrading of heavy water to support Isowater - part of KEY DH Technologies Inc Group - in expanding and improving its deuterium refining capabilities. This will enable Isowater to better serve various non-nuclear deuterium markets through the provision of deuterium production and recycling services, and a higher-purity end-product, says CNL , and aligns with the organisation's holistic heavy water strategy.

CNL President and CEO Jack Craig  said the agreement comes amidst growing interest in the use of heavy water in non-nuclear industries, from electronics to health sciences. "By applying our expertise and technologies, built through more than 60 years of scientific research in hydrogen isotope management, we believe that CNL can help Isowater grow and improve its heavy water refining capabilities. We look forward to working with them under the terms of our new agreement," he said.

Andrew Stuart, chairman of KEY, said the partnership is the next phase of a relationship between Isowater, CNL and AECL that has developed over the past decade and has been an important enabler of the more than 10% compound annual growth rate in deuterium oxide use by the global high technology and life sciences industries. "CNL, Canada’s premier science and technology laboratory, offers world-class technology and expertise that support the path to global success of organisations like ours," he added.

Heavy water - a form of water in which the normal hydrogen is replaced by a heavier form of hydrogen called deuterium - is used as both the moderator and as the reactor coolant in pressurised heavy water reactors, such as Candus. Non-nuclear deuterium markets include manufacturing of semiconductors, OLED displays and fibre optics, as well as the life sciences and environmental science sectors.

As part of their strategic partnership, CNL will supply Isowater with isotope exchange catalyst technologies for its deuterium refinement process. It will also provide subject matter expert support for Isowater’s deuterium refineries.

Nuclear science and technology organisation CNL is contracted by federal Crown corporation AECL to manage and operate its sites and facilities, and to carry out AECL’s mandate to enable nuclear science and technology. Building on AECL's research, CNL can boast more than 60 years of expertise, experience and innovation in heavy water technology, a field in which it is considered to be a world leader.

“AECL is pleased to see the signing of this agreement, which makes use of our extensive intellectual property in heavy water production and refinement,” said AECL President and CEO Fred Dermarkar. "This agreement would not be possible without the innovative collaboration between the federal government and the private sector," he added.

Article researched and written by WNN's Claire Maden