China starts mass production of carbon-14 isotope at commercial nuclear reactor: Report
- In Reports
- 07:11 PM, Apr 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
A Chinese nuclear facility, the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant in Haiyan County, Zhejiang province, has commenced large-scale production of the carbon-14 (C-14) isotope. This initiative was disclosed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), which operates the plant through one of its subsidiaries. Carbon-14 is an elemental isotope with various practical uses in fields such as medicine and archaeology. Additionally, it serves purposes like bacterial infection detection and water quality monitoring.
Previously reliant on imported sources of C-14, China is anticipated to alleviate this dependency with the commencement of C-14 production at the Qinshan plant. An official informed the agency that the output of C-14 from the Qinshan facility is projected to sufficiently fulfill China's market demand, ensuring self-sufficiency in this regard. Up until now, China has heavily relied on imports of C-14 from nations like Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Russia.
In June 2021, the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), in collaboration with several ministries, initiated a plan aimed at domestically producing medical isotopes in China. The objective of this endeavour is to stabilize and secure the supply of these essential isotopes within the country.
Since its inception in 1992, the Qinshan plant has held the distinction of being China's sole facility equipped with commercial heavy water reactors. According to the CNNC, this technology offers the advantage of sustaining stable operation at high power levels for extended durations compared to alternative reactor types. Originally furnished by Canada, this technology has been integral to the plant's operations.
According to the report, the Qinshan plant collaborated with multiple institutions, including the Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute, to execute the mass production initiative. The project commenced in 2019, and commercial production commenced in April 2022.
Image Source: China Daily
Comments