The sterilization and decontamination by ionizing energy are simple, effective methods. Products are exposed to a certain amount of energy generated by the electron accelerator, or by Cobalt 60 sources (depending on the product to be treated). The energy breaks the micro-organisms DNA chain, killing them or rendering them incapable of reproducing themselves.
The choice of method will be made by our team of experts according to the specificities of each client and product. After this assessment, products are treated in environment specially prepared for the procedure. The entire process is performed on products in their final packaging, removing the manipulation step. As surreal as it looks, this is technology to the service of quality and safety for the industry and their clients.
It is the sterilizing process that employs a source of energy capable of ionizing the atoms in the molecules that constitute materials.
The ionizing radiation breaks the microorganisms DNA chain, killing them or rendering them incapable of reproducing themselves.
No, they don’t. The ionizing radiation generated by the gamma ray, X ray and 10 MeV accelerators don’t make the product radioactive.
The process can be used to disinfect, decontaminate or sterilize different types of products in order to improve the safety of the treated product. It is also useful to improve the physicochemical and mechanical propertiesof certainmaterials. There are no restrictions to itsapplication, but tests should be carried out in order to establish the correct dosage of energy to be applied to the product that is going to be processed. Due to its high penetration capacity, this technology is indicated for products from low to high density, allowing them to be treated inside their final packaging, no matter the number of package layers or the packaging geometry.
The radiation process by E-BEAM, exposes the products to beams of accelerated electrons with high energy. The electrons lay downtheir energy on the products, causing the “molecule ionization”, essential to achievethe expected result. The process can be used to disinfect, decontaminate or sterilize different types of products in order to improve the safety of the treated product. Another very important application of electron beams is material modification, as the reticulation reaction in polymers. The technology is more suitedfor processing products with low density.However, its suitability for products with other properties has also been demonstrated.
The technologies are effective for all kinds of microand macroorganisms(insects) in anystage of development. Some microorganisms are more sensitive than others, and for this reason, tests should be carried out to obtain the correct energy dosage.
It is the amount of energy absorbed by the product being treated by ionizing radiation. The measurement unit is the KGy (Kilogray), which is determined by the time the product is exposed to the ionizing radiation.
The definition of sterilization dosage for both technologies is based on two criteria:
The processes normally don’t result in high temperature changes. The temperature variation during the processis around 3ºC. All products can be treated normally. In the gamma ray process, there is no restriction.
No radioactive residues are generated during the process.
No, it does not. The products can be used immediately after processing.
Yes. There are no package related restrictions.
Yes. ISO 11137 is recommended.
