Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Isowater Corporation, a member of the KEY DH Technologies, a Canadian-based, specialist in the hydrogen and deuterium industries. The partnership will support the growth of Isowater’s deuterium oxide (heavy water) refinement business. Under terms of the agreement, CNL will support Isowater with expertise in hydrogen isotope separation and related technologies, leveraging Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) intellectual property related to the upgrading of heavy water.
Isowater will work to expand and improve its deuterium refining capabilities in order to better serve various non-nuclear deuterium markets through the provision of deuterium production and recycling services, and a higher-purity end-product. This aligns with CNL’s holistic heavy water strategy, which is aimed at leveraging the extensive expertise and technologies within Canada’s national nuclear laboratories to help address the growing international market demand for heavy water in both the nuclear and non-nuclear sectors.
Based on research from its predecessor, AECL, CNL is now considered a world leader in heavy water production and upgrading technology, with over 60 years of expertise, experience and innovation covering all aspects of the technology. These capabilities include laboratory development activities; development of proprietary wetproofed catalysts with the required longevity for economical deployment; demonstrations through design, construction, commissioning and operation of pilot and prototype plants; and development of a family of proprietary codes for simulating the processes and catalyst performance profiles along the isotope exchange catalyst beds.
Jack Craig, CNL’s President & CEO 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.”
Andrew TB Stuart, Chairman of KEY said the partnership represents the next phase of the close relationship between Isowater, CNL and AECL that has developed over the past decade. “Our collaboration 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 organizations like ours.”
Since the company was founded in 2009, Isowater has established a global market presence as a trusted and reliable supplier of high-purity heavy water to some of the world’s most sophisticated industries, including life sciences and manufacturers of semiconductors, OLED displays and fibre optics. CNL will supply Isowater with isotope exchange catalyst technologies for its deuterium refinement process. On an as-needed basis, CNL will also provide subject matter expert support for Isowater’s deuterium refineries, which may include process optimisation and troubleshooting.
By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.
Isowater is the deuterium oxide production, refining and sales entity of the KEY DH Technologies Group. The KEY Group also includes deutraMed, a developer and provider of value-added deuterium-based products and services to the high technology and life sciences industries; and Hydrogen Optimized, a manufacturer of large-scale water electrolysers for the production of both hydrogen and enriched deuterium oxide. Together, these companies enable a long-term, secure supply of deuterium for global markets. KEY Group products are exported to customers in more than 25 countries.
