Ionization by accelerated electrons

 

Countless applications, both prophylactic and industrial
  • Sterilisation of medical and pharmaceutical products.
  • Decontamination and conservation of foodstuffs.
  • Reticulation or polymerisation of materials.
  • Treatment of smoke, water, soil and waste.
A simple, ecologically friendly technology

When subjected to a source of electrical energy, electron beams are accelerated and guided towards the products to be treated. Energy then imparted to the matter is used to destroy micro-organisms or change chemical bonds.

Taking into account the nature of the material to be treated and the function to be fulfilled, it is enough to work within two parameters:

  • The dose, i.e. the quantity of energy absorbed per unit of mass of the material treated. For an identical material, it is dependant upon the power of the installation and the time of exposure. This is expressed in Grays (Gy) : I GY = 1 Joule/kg.
  • The amount of electron energy needed to penetrate the product, which is dependant upon the characteristics of the electron accelerator. This is expressed in Mégas électrons-Volts (MeV).

The number of electrons emitted per unit of time is dependant upon the power of the electron accelerator. This is expressed in kW.

According to the treatment to be carried out, the power of the electron beam may vary from 10 to several hundreds of kW, for an energy of 5 to 10 MeV.

Particular advantages

In comparison with other ionization procedures, the accelerated electron technique offers considerable advantages:

  • Harmless to both humans and the environment. Safety precautions are standard and simple.
  • Fast. From 3 to 5 seconds of exposure, according to the characteristics of the unit.
  • Flexible. Treatments may be done on demand, doses can be modified at any time.
  • Certain. The products are treated and controlled at the unit.
  • Productive. An excellent energy-matter exchange rate.
   Questions & Answers What are the other ionization techniques?
  • Gamma rays and X rays, which originate from different technologies.

Is there any risk of products treated by ionization being radioactive?

  • None. The radiation source has no effect upon the treated products..

Is a radioactive source used for the electron accelerator?

  • No, the phenomenon is produced electrically.

In order to increase electron energy, is it simply a matter of increasing the power of the accelerator?

  • On the contrary, the one is generally inversely proportional to the other.

Is it advantageous for the electron energy to be as powerful as possible?

  • No. The authorised maximum is 10 MeV, in order to avoid any risk of the disintegration of the atomic core in the treated product. In any case this is more than sufficient for the majority of applications.