A deuterium-hydrogen exchange catalyst and a method for manufacturing same

The invention relates to a catalyst used for inducing the exchange of water hydrogen for deuterium contained in gaseous hydrogen, with a view to enriching water as regards deuterium. That catalyst comprises an inert support, a coating of a hydrophobic resin e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene and a catalytic agent such as platinum on carbon. The catalyst is manufactured by wrapping the inert support by means of a polytetrafluoroethylene emulsion, which is dried. Platinum deposited on carbon is subsequently mixed with another polytetrafluoroethylene emulsion and the mixture obtained is applied on the dried inert support. The invention can be applied to the production of heavy water