Calcium formation from KOD in D2O by electrochemical reaction catalyzed by Palladium supported on carbon activated by mechanochemistry

From literature, we aware of the development of hard radiation in the electrolysis of deuterium oxide (D2O)with Pd or Ti cathodes. The characteristics of the radiation suggest the existence of a neutron component in its make up. The significant generation of radiation begins after an induction period of 1-3 h and at the same time the build up of tritium in the bulk of the electrolyte was also observed. Taking into account the proposal that the generation of neutrons and the formation of tritium are related to the two channels od the nuclear reaction D + D 3He + n and D + D T + p2 , then from preliminary examinations the probability of second channel is of five orders of magnitude greater than that of the channel in which the neutrons are formed. In the experiment here reported, the formation of calcium from KOD in D2O solution could confirm the development of hard radiation in accordance with the above proposed mechanism, but it is not clear how the proton can win the nuclear repulsion. The experiment confirms the preliminary data obtained with a first explorative experiment in 2003. The observed values of calcium concentration are 100 times higher than the initial value and showed maximum and minimum peaks that fluctuated around a mean value of 10 ?g/mL, which was more than 20 times higher than the basic initial value.