isotope - Is there a simple way to separate deuterium oxide from tap water?

I understand that tap water contains minute amounts of deuterium oxide (heavy water). Is there a simple way to separate, concentrate the $\ce{D2O}$?

Answer

It depends how pure you want the $\ce{D2O}$ to be and what you consider simple :)

Electrolysis of water strongly favors "H" being converted to hydrogen gas rather than "D", by a factor of about 8 to 1 (depending upon the electrodes).

Inexpensive Equipment for the Preparation and Concentration of Pure $\ce{D2O}$ Ohio Journal of Science volume 41, number 5, pages 357-365 (1941) explains in great detail how to carry out the electrolysis method. The article says the process is suitable for "those who have occasion to prepare or concentrate heavy water for research, demonstration or advanced student laboratory use".

In a first stage, $\ce{NaOH}$ solution (initially $\pu{0.5 M}$) is subject to electrolysis, until only 1/32 of the original volume remains. This increased the original concentration of deuterium by a factor of 12.

By then the $\ce{NaOH}$ is too concentrated, and $\ce{CO2}$ is added (as dry ice) to neutralize the solution, and the first stage solution is distilled to get rid of the sodium carbonate. About $5~\%$ of the $\ce{NaOH(D)}$ concentrate would be saved and added to the distillate to provide electrolyte for the next stage.

Then a second stage of electrolysis is performed. By the end of the second stage they reached about $10~\%$ deuterium. The process can be repeated to achieve a desired deuterium level. They used three stages. Yield can be improved by capturing the deutrium/hydrogen gas of the late stages, burning it to make water, and feeding this back to an earlier stage.