Overview
Carbon-13 is a stable, naturally occurring isotope of carbon, distinguished by its nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) activity. Unlike radioactive carbon-14, ¹³C is non-radioactive and accounts for about 1.1% of Earth's carbon. Its unique nuclear spin properties make it invaluable for scientific research, particularly in NMR spectroscopy and metabolic studies. First isolated in the 1930s, ¹³C is now produced through isotopic enrichment processes like cryogenic distillation or laser separation. It's commercially available in various forms including ¹³C-labeled compounds (e.g., glucose, urea) and gaseous ¹³CO₂ for different research and industrial applications.
Physical and Chemical Properties
As an isotope, ¹³C shares chemical properties with the more abundant ¹²C but exhibits different nuclear characteristics. It has a nuclear spin of ½, making it detectable by NMR – a property absent in ¹²C. This allows researchers to track molecular structures and metabolic pathways without radioactivity. The physical properties of ¹³C-containing compounds are nearly identical to their ¹²C counterparts, with slight differences in vibrational frequencies and reaction kinetics. These minor variations are crucial in isotope geochemistry and paleoclimate studies, where ¹³C/¹²C ratios provide information about biological processes and environmental conditions.
Main Applications
In NMR spectroscopy, ¹³C enables detailed molecular structure analysis, particularly in organic chemistry and pharmaceutical research. The medical field uses ¹³C-labeled compounds for breath tests diagnosing H. pylori infections and assessing liver function. Environmental scientists employ ¹³C as a tracer in carbon cycling studies, while the food industry uses isotope ratio analysis for authenticity testing (e.g., detecting adulteration in honey or vanilla). Recent advances include ¹³C hyperpolarization techniques for enhanced MRI contrast in cancer detection.
Safety and Storage
Elemental ¹³C poses minimal health risks, but specific compounds may have associated hazards. For instance, ¹³CO₂ in concentrated form can cause asphyxiation, while some labeled organics are flammable. Proper ventilation and standard chemical safety protocols should always be followed. Storage requirements vary by compound form. Gaseous ¹³C should be kept in certified cylinders with proper valves, while solid forms typically require airtight containers in temperature-controlled environments. Label all materials clearly with isotopic content and expiration dates where applicable.
B2B Procurement Guide
When sourcing ¹³C products, specify the required enrichment level (typically 99% for NMR applications), chemical form, and purity grade. Lead times can be significant for custom-labeled compounds, so plan procurement accordingly. For bulk purchases, consider working directly with isotope producers rather than distributors for better pricing. Quality verification should include certificate of analysis for isotopic and chemical purity. For research applications, ensure compatibility with your experimental protocols – some studies may require specific labeling positions within molecules. Budget approximately $100-$1,000 per gram depending on compound complexity and enrichment level.
Related Manufacturers
- 主营：离子液体、阻燃剂、咪唑、钯碳催化剂、催化剂、乙酰丙酮钴、正丁醇锆、四氟硼酸锂、香兰基丁醚、氟化物、全氟辛基三甲氧基硅烷、丙酮肟、双酚E型氰酸酯、叔丁基乙烯基醚、钛硅分子筛、硫酸烟酰苯胺、丙酮缩氨基硫脲
- 主营：聚乙二醇、聚丙二醇、叔胺、伯胺、染料中间体
- 主营：乙酸龙脑酯、聚苯乙烯磺酸钠、乙基黄原酸钾、十三碳二元酸、2-十一酮
- 主营：DMF、DMAC、二丙酮醇、碳酸丙烯酯、四甲基胍、马来酸酐、丙二醇、乙二醇、甲酸、甲醇、十二醇、柠檬酸、己二醇、甘油、四氢呋喃、吐温、无水氯化钙、乙酸乙酯、氢氧化钠、二乙醇胺、司盘、过硫酸钠、氧化钙、氯化钾
- 主营：聚乙烯亚胺、三甘醇二异辛酸酯3G8、TS-1钛硅分子筛、三硫代碳酸钠40%、六氯环三磷腈、5-甲基靛红、烷基苯磺酸酯、苯基次磷酸钠、甲巯咪唑、吡啶硫酮锌、焦磷酸哌嗪、热敏材料、油酸甲酯、曲酸
- 主营：红色素-16、聚乙烯亚胺、三乙二醇二异辛酸酯、三硫代碳酸钠、巯基苯并噻唑钠、L-丙交酯、乙交酯、石油酯-T50、多元醇苯甲酸酯、热压敏染料、光稳定剂、高分子降解材料
- 主营：十八醛、溶菌酶、海藻糖、叔碳酸、乙基碳二、癸二醇、氨基丙基、氢路噻嗪、邻苯二甲、羟基癸酸、正十七烷、谷胱甘肽、烷二甲醇、松果体素、vc磷酸酯镁、2-甲基丁醛、朱栾倍半萜、丁烷四乙酸、表面活性剂、癸烷撑二醇、缩水甘油邻、10-羟基羊蜡酸、氢氯噻嗪杂质、盐酸邻菲罗啉、壳聚糖季铵盐
- 主营：杜仲素、对位酯、丙烯酸酯、十三碳二元酸、二氧化硫脲、乙基麦芽酚、饲料添加剂、油酸基硬脂酸、二苯基硅二醇
- 主营：阻燃剂、催化剂、水杨酸、碳酸锌、碳酸锂、二苯基、酰亚胺、正磷酸、烟酰胺、曲酸粉、氯化锌、异丙醇、化妆品、初油酸、脂肪醇、生石灰、甲基异、活性炭、乙二胺、三氮唑、着色剂、环己酮、防冻液、抗氧剂、亚磷酸
- 主营：十三碳二酸二甲酯、全氟三丁胺、木质素、吉氏色素
- 主营：阻燃剂、拉那白、牛儿酮、十三碳二元酸、海藻糖、热敏蓝、萘磺酸、氯菊酯、硫酸锌、催化剂、杨梅酯、檀香醚、聚醚胺、吸收剂、脂檀油、苍术素、羟钴胺、转移剂、溶剂绿、麝香酮、王浆酸、芬多精、纤维素、新戊酯、王冠醚、遮甜粉
- 主营：十三碳二元酸、麦芽糖酸、苯氧基环磷腈、甲巯基四氮唑
- 主营：丙烯酸单体、全氟三丁胺、甲基丙烯酸十八酯、十三碳二元酸、乙二醇二缩水甘油醚、催化剂、催干剂、环氧稀释剂、增塑剂、偶联剂、交联剂、橡胶塑料助剂、电镀电子科技材料、丙烯酸酯类
- 主营：固体酸催化剂、重组胶原蛋白、硅油、碳化硅晶须、特种硅油、聚硅氮烷、硼酸铝晶须、t-BAMBP萃取剂、全氟三丁胺
- 主营：乙二醇、十二烷基苯磺酸、1618醇、甘油、平平加、聚异丁烯、硬脂酸、二甲基硅油、磺酸、AEO、聚乙二醇、纯碱、非离子表面活性剂、失水山梨醇单油酸酯