CNNC achieves breakthrough in iodine‑131 production, breaking foreign monopoly
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has announced a major achievement: the successful development of a complete industrial chain for producing iodine‑131 through irradiation of enriched tellurium targets. This advancement enables large‑scale, low‑cost production of the isotope, which is widely known as the "golden nuclide" for diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism.
The project prepared enriched ¹³⁰TeO₂ targets with a purity exceeding 99%. Using the HFETR reactor, researchers irradiated 30 grams of enriched targets, significantly boosting iodine‑131 yields. A new dry distillation process was applied to separate nuclides, eliminating the radioactive waste liquid generated by traditional wet methods. The resulting sodium iodide oral solution achieved radioactive purity above 99%, fully meeting Chinese Pharmacopoeia standards.
Compared with natural TeO₂ production methods, the new technology triples stacking efficiency, reduces costs, and cuts derivative waste by about 60%. CNNC is also building an intelligent packaging platform, which will enable annual production capacity of one million curies. This output is expected to meet domestic demand valued at 600-700 million RMB (about 85-100 million USD), while reducing reliance on imported high‑purity targets.
This breakthrough not only secures China's independent supply of high‑end nuclear medicine materials but also establishes an environmentally friendly industrial chain from raw materials to nuclear drug development.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is a state‑owned enterprise founded in 1955 and headquartered in Beijing. It is China's largest nuclear technology company, responsible for nuclear power generation, fuel supply, and research in nuclear medicine. CNNC has played a central role in advancing China's nuclear industry, from building reactors to developing isotopes for medical use. Its latest achievement in iodine‑131 production highlights the company's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
