First time! my country's independently developed ytterbium-176 isotope has reached the international advanced level!

Recently, the isotope electromagnetic separation technology team of the China Institute of Atomic Energy has separated for the first time the ytterbium 176 isotope with an abundance greater than 99% and a purity greater than 99.5% through independent research and development of key technologies, among which the abundance of ytterbium 174 is less than 0.5%.

This achievement has effectively enhanced my country's ability to domestically prepare high-abundance ytterbium-176 isotopes, and indicates that my country's independently developed ytterbium-176 isotopes have reached the internationally advanced level.

Ytterbium-176 sample. Photo by Liu Suxu, China Institute of Atomic Energy

High-abundance ytterbium-176 isotope is the precursor material of the medical isotope uncarrier lutetium-177. Uncarrier lutetium-177 is currently the most promising integrated radioactive diagnostic and therapeutic nuclide in the world. The radiopharmaceuticals prepared from it can be used to treat neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer. It has broad application prospects and the market demand is growing rapidly.

Planning and production

Source: Science and Technology Daily WeChat Official Account

Editor: Wang Mengru