China begins mass production of carbon-14 isotopes using a commercial nuclear reactor
China has started mass production of carbon-14 using a commercial nuclear reactor, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said.
The carbon-14 isotope was produced using a heavy water reactor at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, which is operated by subsidiary of CNNC, an official at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant told Xinhua on Saturday evening.
The annual production of carbon-14 isotopes is estimated to be able to "fully meet market demand in this area," he said. in China.
This will end the country's almost complete dependence on the import of carbon-14 isotopes, he added.
Carbon-14 is widely used as a marker of radioactivity and detection in agriculture, chemistry , medicine, biology and other fields.