China’s first commercial heavy-water reactor for isotopes begins production
Medical isotopes, such as Lutetium-177, are crucial for targeted cancer therapies and diagnostic imaging.
China National Nuclear Corporation’s (CNNC) first-ever commercial reactor for the production of isotopes has officially opened. Called the Qinshan Nuclear Power Base plant, it has already produced its first batch of Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) medical isotopes.
The plant opened for business on December 26 and uses online irradiation to produce isotopes like Lutetium-177. At the heart of the facility is a kind of heavy-water reactor known for its high neutron flux.
This reactor, it is reported, can be continuously refueled without being shut down and operate stably for long periods. It offers high efficiency, large output, high specific activity, continuous production, and a stable supply of isotopes for mass production.
The inauguration of this new reactor comes after months of development and upgrade of the facility. It can now produce a variety of short-lived medical isotopes, including Strontium-89 (Sr-89) and Yttrium-90 (Y-90), on a large scale.