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Mice fed for 15 days with Deuterium-Depleted Water (30 ppm deuterium) had a statistically significant increased survival rate compared with control groups fed with normal distilled water (150 ppm deuterium), after 8.5 Gy irradiation (61% survival in the test group versus 25% in the control group). The hematological picture showed that normal WBC, RBC and platelet counts were maintained in the test groups. Immunological parameters (serum opsonic and bactericidal capacity, bactericidal capacity of the peritoneal macrophages) showed a marked increase in the test groups compared to a severe decrease in the control groups. Auxiliary tests using chemical radiomimetics (hydrochloric embihine) and immunosuppressors (cyclophosphamide) showed a strong protective effect of deuterium-depleted water against the decrease of the leukocyte counts and other immunologic parameters. In conditions of experimental inflammation induced with subcutaneous-implanted pellets, deuterium-depleted water feeding resulted in a statistically significant increase of the inflammatory response, demonstrated by increased percentages of PMN and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and the increased phagocytic capacity of the peripheral blood PMN. Experimental infections induced with K. pneumoniae 506 and S. pneumoniae 558 in mice irradiated or treated with cyclophosphamide showed increased, non-specific immunity parameters. All results show a marked intensification of the immune defenses and increased proliferation of the peripheral blood cells, probably accounting for the radioprotective effects.

The paper presents theoretical and experimental data concerning mass and heat transfer on B7 structured packing, used for deuterium separation in distillation column. The first section of the paper is dedicated to mass transfer study for hydrogen distillation, and the second section to mass and heat transfer for water distillation. Mathematical model verification was carried out with experimental data, obtained from two laboratory distillation plants for deuterium separation. The experimental data concerning B7 ordered packing efficiency for hydrogen cryogenic distillation at about –250 °C level were obtained from the first plant, and the second plant provided data concerning mass and heat transfer on the same packing for deuterium separation by water vacuum distillation at about 60 °C level. Height of transfer unit and mass and heat transfer coefficients, evaluated theoretically and experimentally, are comparable with those from chemical industry separation processes. This fact justifies the use of multi-tubular column model or transfer process description at distillation column equipped with B7 structured packing.