Weizmann Institute Laboratory Producing Heavy Oxygen

An installation for the production of heavy oxygen is now in operation at the Weizmann Institute of Science at Rehovot. The installation, which will produce three kilograms of heavy oxygen water a year, was set up by Dr. Israel Dostrovsky, of the Institute staff, with the aid of Dr. Joseph Gillis, a mathematician of the Institute staff.

The production of this rare substance in such quantities has been greeted with interest in scientific circles. The Institute’s work has been widely noted not only for its importance in medical, biological and chemical research, but also as an indication of the high quality of the work being carried out by the Institute. In this connection, it was noted that a representative of the French Atomic Energy Commission had spent a year at the Institute studying the processes of the heavy oxygen installation.

In addition, it was also pointed out that an agreement had been concluded between the Weizmann Institute and both the British and French Atomic Energy Commissions for the supply of the heavy oxygen and for the mutual interchange of information in this field.

Another by product of the process now in operation is the light it throws on the problems of water distillation. It is thought that valuable information will be obtained on the problem of de salting water. Any new source of fresh water would be of importance in coping with Israel’s shortage of water supply.