China successfully produces Yttrium-90 in commercial reactors

China has mastered the technology for producing Yttrium-90, an isotope used in radiation therapy, in commercial reactors, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) revealed on Sunday.

The Yttrium-90 glass microspheres irradiated in a reactor at the CNNC's Qinshan Nuclear Power Base in Zhejiang Province have passed all relevant tests, paving the way for mass production.

Yttrium-90 glass microspheres are mainly made from Yttrium-89, which turns into radioactive Yttrium-90 after absorbing neutrons in a nuclear reactor.

These microspheres are used as a radioactive drug that releases beta radiation. By using vascular intervention techniques, the Yttrium-90 microspheres are delivered to the liver's blood vessels to treat liver tumors, making it a minimally invasive procedure.

Experts revealed that once out of the reactor, the Yttrium-90 produced is to be thoroughly examined by researchers before entering the application stage.

The commercial heavy-water reactor at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Base offers unique advantages for producing Yttrium-90, according to engineers.

"The commercial heavy-water reactor has a relatively high neutron flux, and it is able to operate stably. The activation zone of the core is very big. Using this type of reactor to produce Yttrium-90 has significant benefits, such as the ability to increase production, reduce costs, and provide a consistent supply," said Li Shisheng, deputy chief engineer at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Base.

China successfully produces Yttrium-90 in commercial reactors

China successfully produces Yttrium-90 in commercial reactors

The Langqi passenger terminal in Fuzhou of east China's Fujian Province officially commenced a new departure tax refund initiative for travelers heading on the "mini three links" route on Tuesday, with streamlined measures boosting the efficiency of tax refunds and speeding up customs clearance procedures.

The "mini three links" refers to direct trade, postal and transport services launched in 2001 between Fujian Province and the Taiwan-administered Kinmen and Matsu islands. It serves as a vital, convenient cross-strait passage for personnel exchanges and economic and trade interactions between the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan region.

At the heart of the upgraded service is an optimized procedure dubbed the "one document, one bag, one code" process, a simple and streamlined model designed to shorten clearance time for outbound passengers.

Under this framework, travelers who make purchases at designated pilot tax refund stores can have their qualified goods consolidated into a single sealed bag, with all corresponding tax refund information integrated into a unique QR code printed on the tax refund application form.

When departing via the Langqi passenger terminal, on-site customs officers only need to scan the QR code to retrieve and verify the details relating to the applicant's tax refund application. Travelers can then get quick customs clearance once the information is confirmed to be accurate, with no requirement to open their sealed shopping bags for repeated inspections.

Departure tax refund services launched at "mini three links" port in Fuzhou