Synthesis of completely deuterated hydrocarbons

The possibility of synthesizing a new material—completely deuterated hydrocarbons—by the Fischer-Tropsch process has been demonstrated. This is the first step toward the formation of a research-and-production basis for the creation of a pilot plant. There was no isotope effect; consequently, the key characteristics of the synthesis and products were determined by the properties of the catalyst and reaction conditions, irrespective of whether hydrogen or deuterium was used in the starting mixture. Waxes were removed from the catalyst surface under mild conditions; this did not require any special equipment or the transfer of catalyst to another reactor. The chosen catalyst was highly stable and can be used in a pilot plant for the production of completely deuterated waxes. The first evaluation of the properties of the new materials showed that they were promising as solvents for NMR, radioactive labels, targets, neutron flux moderators, etc.