Deuterium is a pretty small fraction (about 1 part in 6000) of natural hydrogen. One would also want to consider the source of the Hydrogen, which might have already had the D removed. I understand, perhaps from someone on this board, that the current process for extracting D is a side effect of making ammonia. ND3 has a much different boiling point than NH3 or various other versions (NDH2, NH2D) and, so, fractional distillation is fairly easy. Apparently, the electrolytic process (of Norsk Hydro in WWII fame) isn't much used any more.
In any case, D2 isn't all that expensive in lecture bottle quantities (you're paying for the bottle). A 2 cuft bottle will last a long long time. It might set you back $150 to get it (although that might be high...), but you'll have spent more on other things by then.
Created on Friday, January 12, 2001 11:47 PM EDT by James Lux