China starts mass production of carbon-14 isotope via commercial nuclear reactor

An aerial view of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant in Haiyan county, Zhejiang province. [PHOTO BY HU XIAOLI/CHINA NEWS SERVICE]

BEIJING — China has started the mass production of carbon-14 through the use of a commercial nuclear reactor, according to the China National Nuclear Corporation.

The carbon-14 isotope was produced by the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, which is operated by a CNNC subsidiary, an official with the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant told Xinhua late on Saturday.

The official expected that this carbon-14 isotope output should be able to “completely meet the market demand” of China.

This will end China’s near-total reliance on carbon-14 isotope imports, according to the official.

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