Use Of Electron Beam Irradiation Research Articles

Improving storage duration of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) through electron beam technology.

Electron beam (EB) technology typically consists of high-energy electron streams produced by a linear accelerator. Although promising, the use of EB irradiation as a technique to delay ripening and prevent spoilage in tomatoes has not been extensively investigated. In this study, the effectiveness of EB irradiation in prolonging the shelf life of tomatoes postharvest was investigated. The results indicated that EB irradiation successfully reduced microbial contamination and decay, preserved key quality attributes (such as total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, and firmness), and significantly minimized weight loss. Notably, the treatment delayed the biosynthesis of lycopene, a key indicator of ripening, without adversely affecting phenolic content and antioxidant activity, which remained consistent regardless of irradiation. Additionally, different methods for detecting irradiation were evaluated. Thermoluminescence analysis proved to be the most dependable technique, especially for doses exceeding 600Gy, due to its high sensitivity and specificity. In contrast, photostimulated luminescence and electron spin resonance analyses showed limitations in accurately identifying the irradiation status of foods with high moisture content, such as tomatoes. This study confirms that EB irradiation, while maintaining postharvest quality, extends the shelf life of tomatoes by 5-10days, suggesting its potential for commercial application in food preservation.

Electron irradiation enhanced wear resistance and hardness of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

The surface of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bulk materials was modified by irradiation at high temperatures using a 1.2 MeV electron beam. The mass wear rate was decreased from 2.5 × 10-6 g N-1 m-1 to 0.08 × 10-6 g N-1 m-1, and the hardness was increased from 33.2 MPa to 93.9 MPa. The yield strength was increased from 12.1 MPa to 25.8 MPa and Young's modulus was enhanced from 101 MPa to 261 MPa. The use of electron beam irradiation on PTFE at high temperature is an effective modification method to significantly improve its wear resistance and hardness, and increase the elastic response range of PTFE. The chemical reaction induced by electron irradiation at high temperature changes the molecular structure of the PTFE bulk material from highly linear to a network, thus improving the surface mechanical properties of PTFE.

Electron beam irradiation as a straightforward way to produce tailorable non-biofouling poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) hydrogel layers on different substrates

Uncontrolled accumulation of proteins and cells on implantable materials often leads to failure of their performance in vivo. The idea presented in this paper is the use of electron beam irradiation as a widely applicable, cost-effective, and defined method to produce non-biofouling hydrogel coatings to improve the biocompatibility and in vivo performance of implantable materials. Statistical copolymers poly[2-methyl-2-oxazoline-co-2-(3-butenyl)-2-oxazoline]s were deposited on different substrates and irradiated with beta radiation of different radiation doses (2–100 kGy). In the bulk state experiments, we found that the higher content of crosslinkable 3-butenyl units and a higher radiation dose resulted in more efficient crosslinking. Similarly, the irradiation of coatings demonstrated the high impact of the concentration of 3-butenyl units on crosslinking efficiency. Accordingly, the concentration of crosslinkable double bonds in the copolymer is crucial for the stability and homogeneity of the formed hydrogel layer. Stable and uniform hydrogel layers with thicknesses in the micrometer range were prepared from a 5 wt% copolymer solution. Depending on the preparation conditions, the hydrogel layers showed excellent non-biofouling properties with a low number of adherent cells. In addition, stiffness was dependent on the degree of crosslinking, and can thus be tailored for specific application in living tissue.

Development of a highly hydrophobic and antimicrobial surface for polyester fabrics treated with (vinyl acetate versatic ester/paraffin wax) blend containing sodium chloride using electron beam irradiation

This article presents the use of electron beam irradiation to create a highly hydrophobic and antimicrobial surface for polyester fabrics (PEF) based on paraffin wax and vinyl acetate versatic ester (VAVE) in the presence of sodium chloride. This was carried out in three steps; the first step includes the formation of paraffin wax emulsion (PWE) under specific conditions. The second step involves adding varying amounts of PWE (5, 10, and 15 phr) to VAVE under the influence of ultrasound to produce a VAVE/PWE/NaCl blend. While the third step involves submerging the PEF into the prepared blend for some time, then eliminating the excess of the mixture from the surface of the PEF using the film applicator after it was brought out, then exposing the PEF saturated with the blend to 10, 20, and 30 kGy of electron beam source. Various properties of the prepared blend, such as contact angle, water absorption, mechanical properties, FTIR, and antimicrobial activity, were investigated. The results showed that the optimum amount of PWE added to VAVE to produce the blend was 10 phr under 20 kGy using 6 % NaCl, which gives the highest contact angle of 115° with a significant improvement of the remaining properties. After investigating the zone of inhibition (ZOI) results, the synthesized samples are possessed antimicrobial potential against the tested pathogenic microbes like P. mirabilis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. The highest inhibition percentage (antibiofilm activity) of the synthesized PEF/F2, PEF/F5/20kGy, and PEF/F6/20kGy were documented for S. aureus (55.55 %, 60.20 %, and 88.18 %), followed by C. albicans (49.25 %, 55.68 %, and 80.19 %), and P. aureginosa (48.25 %, 50.12 %, and 79.58 %), respectively. The quantity of bacterial protein released from the cell is directly proportional to the increased concentrations of the synthesized samples (at different diameters; mm) and counted to be 40.25, 80.98, and 190.58 μg/mL following the treatment with samples PEF/F2, PEF/F5/20kGy, and PEF/F6/20kGy, respectively.

Electron-Beam Inactivation of Human Rotavirus (HRV) for the Production of Neutralizing Egg Yolk Antibodies

Electron beam (eBeam) inactivation of pathogens is a commercially proven technology in multiple industries. While commonly used in a variety of decontamination processes, this technology can be considered relatively new to the pharmaceutical industry. Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis among infants, children, and at-risk adults. Infections are more severe in developing countries where access to health care, clean food, and water is limited. Passive immunization using orally administered egg yolk antibodies (chicken IgY) is proven for prophylaxis and therapy of viral diarrhea, owing to the stability of avian IgY in the harsh gut environment. Since preservation of viral antigenicity is critical for successful antibody production, the aim of this study was to demonstrate the effective use of electron beam irradiation as a method of pathogen inactivation to produce rotavirus-specific neutralizing egg yolk antibodies. White leghorn hens were immunized with the eBeam-inactivated viruses every 2 weeks until serum antibody titers peaked. The relative antigenicity of eBeam-inactivated Wa G1P[8] human rotavirus (HRV) was compared to live virus, thermally, and chemically inactivated virus preparations. Using a sandwich ELISA (with antibodies against recombinant VP8 for capture and detection of HRV), the live virus was as expected, most immunoreactive. The eBeam-inactivated HRV’s antigenicity was better preserved when compared to thermally and chemically inactivated viruses. Additionally, both egg yolk antibodies and serum-derived IgY were effective at neutralizing HRV in vitro. Electron beam inactivation is a suitable method for the inactivation of HRV and other enteric viruses for use in both passive and active immunization strategies.

Thermochemical compatibilization of reclaimed tire rubber/ poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) blend using electron beam irradiation and amine-based chemical

Waste tire rubber is commonly recycled by blending with other polymers. However, the mechanical properties of these blends were poor due to lack of adhesion between the matrix and the waste tire rubber. In this research, the use of electron beam irradiation and (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxy silane (APTES) on enhancing the performance of 50 wt% reclaimed tire rubber (RTR) blend with 50 wt% poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) was investigated. Preparation of RTR/EVA blends were carried out in the internal mixer. The blends were then exposed to electron beam (EB) irradiation at doses ranging from 50 to 200 kGy. APTES loading was varied between 1 to 10 wt%. The processing, morphological, mechanical, and calorimetric properties of the blends were investigated. The stabilization torque and total mixing energy was higher in compatibilized blends. Mechanical properties of RTR/EVA blends were improved due to efficiency of APTES in further reclaiming the RTR and compatibilizing the blends. APTES improved the dispersion of embedded smaller RTR particles in EVA matrix and crosslinking efficiency of the blends. Calorimetric studies showed increased crystallinity in compatibilized blends which corresponds to improved mechanical properties. However, the ductility of the blend was decreased due to increased interaction between EVA and APTES. Presence of APTES increased the efficiency of electron beam irradiation induced crosslinking which was shown through gel content analysis and Charlesby-Pinner equation.

Low-Dose Electron-Beam Irradiation for the Improvement of Biofilm Formation by Probiotic Lactobacilli.

The effects of 50-150 gray electron-beam irradiation on the biofilm-formation ability and cell surface hydrophobicity of the commercial strain, Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS®-1, from Lacto-G (a marketed synbiotic formulation) and the putative probiotic, L. rhamnosus Vahe, were evaluated. No significant changes in cell surface hydrophobicity were found after irradiation, while increases in biofilm-formation abilities were documented for both investigated microorganisms 0.22 ± 0.03 vs. 0.149 ± 0.02 (L. rhamnosus Vahe, 150Gy) and 0.218 ± 0.021 vs. 0.17 ± 0.012 (L. acidophilus DDS®-1, 150Gy). Given this, the use of electron-beam irradiation (50-100Gy) for the treatment of L. rhamnosus Vahe and L. acidophilus DDS®-1 cells may be considered in product sterilization, quality improvement, and packaging practices.

Use of electron beam irradiation for improving reactivity of dissolving pulp in viscose process

Viscose staple fibres are produced by multi-stage chemical intensive unit operations. Low pulp reactivity is the main reason for higher consumption of chemicals, especially CS2 and NaOH. Electron beam irradiation (EBI) is one potential way to reduce chemical consumption by improving the pulp reactivity. In the present study, pulp reactivity improves from 28.73 to 33.87 and 39.85 for pulp irradiated at 2 kGy and 5 kGy, respectively, as compared to non-irradiated pulp. The viscose dope prepared from the irradiated pulp shows improvement in filterability (kw) and ripening index. This indicates improved mass transfer through EBI treatment by providing pulp accessibility towards NaOH and CS2.

Evaluation of Electron Beam Irradiation as New Pretreatment for Cellulose Nanofibril Production

Many studies have reported that cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) show high potential for use in many industries, but this material has been considered too costly for commercialization. An effective treatment is therefore needed to reduce the production costs of CNFs. This study describes the use of electron beam irradiation as a new pretreatment for the manufacture of CNFs and the effectiveness of electron beam irradiation in the refining process, which is a part of CNF production. Bleached kraft pulps were irradiated by an electron beam and subsequently refined, followed by measurement of the freeness and fiber properties. The strengths of treated pulps were identified by preparing handsheets and analyzing their strengths. Increases in the irradiation dose of the electron beam and in the beating time decreased the freeness and fiber length of the pulps. The images acquired with an optical microscope demonstrated fibrillation of pulps. The handsheets made from the pulps irradiated by the electron beam and beaten showed lower strengths because of the reduction in the degree of polymerization and crystallinity. Therefore, electron beam irradiation is concluded to reduce the amount of electric energy needed in the manufacturing process of CNFs, but the irradiation dose of electron beam must be controlled to avoid severe deterioration of the fiber strength.

Radiolysis of carbamazepine aqueous solution using electron beam irradiation combining with hydrogen peroxide: Efficiency and mechanism

Herein, ionizing radiolytic treatment for CBZ in the absence of and in the presence of H2O2 was both studied. Although use of electron beam irradiation alone could efficiently decompose CBZ, combination with H2O2 could further promote degradation efficiency and mineralization level of CBZ. In the present study, the best degradation efficiency of CBZ was obtained in solution with 10mM H2O2, where the dose constant was 2.63kGy−1; while the highest mineralization level (41% TOC removal) was achieved in solution with 50mM H2O2. Five carboxylic acids and twelve organic transformation products (TPs) were identified and determined during the irradiation processes. On the basis of the tendency of TPs, possible transformation mechanisms of CBZ with the combinative processes of electron beam and H2O2 were proposed. It was found some mutagenic and carcinogenic transformation compounds, such as acridine (ACIN) could be promptly decomposed in the presence of H2O2.

Effect of nonequilibrium hydrogen release in the ultrafine-grained Zr-1Nb alloy under the electron beam exposure

The evolution of structural and phase state and hydrogen release from the ultrafine-grained hydrogenated zirconium Zr-1Nb alloy during vacuum annealing and electron beams exposure were studied. The use of electron beam irradiation for hydrogen degassing is shown to decrease the temperature of active hydrogen release by 100-200 K and/or reduce the time required for hydrogen degassing from the alloy to concentrations corresponding to technical standards.

Radiation methods in decision support system for food safety

Abstract Mathematical model is the basis for computer decision support system (DSS) connected with food security strategy, in which food irradiation is one of the methods used for elimination of substance with pathogens. Such system can support an organisation of many different activities in the area of food safety. It can be designed for a specific region, country, etc., and is addressed to State Sanitary Inspection offices. The paper demonstrates the capabilities of the system in modeling activities of sanitary inspection teams aimed at pathogen elimination with the use of electron beam irradiation in procedures of utilisation of animal originated food, related packaging, or other microbiologically contaminated materials. It describes new application of both computer supported decision systems and radiation processing. The elaborated mathematical models show human activities in the process of microbiological contamination elimination.

Thermomechanical and flexural properties of chopped silk fiber-reinforced poly(butylene succinate) green composites: effect of electron beam treatment of worm silk

The effect of electron beam treatment on the thermomechanical and flexural properties of chopped silk fiber-reinforced poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) green composites was studied for the first time in this work. The surface topological changes in worm silk fibers before and after the electron beam irradiation at various doses (5–100 kGy) were observed. Dynamic mechanical and flexural properties and thermal expansion behavior of neat PBS and silk/PBS green composites were investigated by means of dynamic mechanical analysis, three-point flexural test, and thermomechanical analysis. The irradiated silk/PBS composite result was compared with neat PBS and un-irradiated silk/PBS counterparts. It was concluded that use of electron beam irradiation at an appropriate dosage may contribute to an enhancement of the dynamic mechanical and flexural properties as well as to the thermodimensional stability of silk-based green composites. The result revealed that the property enhancement was most profound at the electron beam absorption dose of 20 kGy.

Synergistic Effects of Electron-beam Irradiation and Leek Extract on the Quality of Pork Jerky during Ambient Storage.

To investigate the synergistic effect(s) of electron-beam (EB) irradiation and leek (Allium tuberosum Rottler) extract on the quality of pork jerky during ambient storage, we irradiated prepared pork jerky samples (control and samples with 0.5% and 1.0% leek extract) with EB technology at doses of 0, 1, 2, and 4 kGy, stored them for 2 months at 25°C, and analyzed them. Water activity was 0.73 to 0.77 in non-irradiated samples, and no significant difference in the water activity was observed between the samples treated with leek and the control. The total aerobic bacterial count was significantly decreased with an increase in the irradiation dose and leek extract addition when compared to that of the control (4.54±0.05 log CFU/g). Further, the Hunter color values (L*, a*, and b*) were found to be significantly decreased following leek extract addition and EB irradiation. However, the color values, especially the a* value of the irradiated samples significantly increased during storage. Notably, increasing the EB irradiation dose enhanced the peroxide value. Sensory evaluation revealed that irradiation decreased flavor and overall acceptability. Our findings suggest the use of EB irradiation in combination with leek extract to improve the microbiological safety of pork jerky. However, in order to meet market requirements, novel methods to enhance the sensory quality of pork jerky are warranted.

Effect of electron beam irradiation on proximate, microbiological and sensory characteristics of chyavanaprash — Ayurvedic poly herbal formulation

This investigation aims to the use of electron beam irradiation for maintaining the quality of chyavanaprash, an ayurvedic poly herbal formulation instead of chemical preservative. Fresh chyavanaprash formulations were treated with electron beam irradiation at doses of 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 and 10 kGy. The irradiated and non-irradiated products were stored at room temperature (27 ± 3 °C and 50–70% Rh). Proximate analysis, sensory properties and microbial analysis were carried out. The results indicated that the electron beam irradiation reduced total bacterial and fungal count. The applied doses did not cause any significant changes in the proximate composition of the chyavanaprash. No significant differences were observed in sensory properties between control and irradiated sample. Ayurvedic products are made up of herbs/plants. These herbal/plant products are natural in origin and often contain high microbial contaminations. Therefore they are treated with one of the methods including heat and addition of preservatives like sodium benzoate, ethylene oxide in order to reduce the microbial contamination. It gives undesirable change in flavour, colour and nutrients. When sodium benzoate mixed with vitamin C which is present in the herbal products, it produces benzene. Benzene is carcinogen. These are harmful when consumed for long time. Irradiation is a technology for sterilizing foods contaminated by bacteria and is expected to reduce the incidence of food borne illness . It is the process of exposing the products to an ionizing radiation , to kill harmful bacteria and other organisms and extend the shelf-life of the products without changing the nature of the product. It is a new technology to enhance ayurvedic products safety and quality. ► It is a new technology to enhance ayurvedic products' safety and quality. ► Chyavanaprash is exposed to ionizing radiation to extend the shelf-life without changing the nature of the product. ► It did not cause any significant change in the proximate, chemical and sensory properties of irradiated chyavanaprash.

Degradation of ampicillin in pig manure slurry and an aqueous ampicillin solution using electron beam irradiation

This study was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of degradation of antibiotic ampicillin in pig manure slurry and an aqueous ampicillin solution with the use of electron beam irradiation as a function of the absorbed dose. The degradation efficiency of ampicillin was close to 95% at an absorbed dose of 10 kGy. The degradation of ampicillin followed a “first-order” reaction rate with respect to absorbed dose. The results demonstrate that the electron beam irradiation technology is an effective means to remove antibiotics in manure and bodies of water.

SO2 and NOx Removal By Microwave and Electron Beam Processing

This work presents a method and a semi-pilot scale installation (SPSI) for the simultaneous SO2 and NOX removal by separate and combined microwave (MW) and electron beam (EB) irradiation. The SPSI consists mainly of the following units: a gaseous mixture preparation system (GMPS), a microwave source (MS) of 2.45 GHz and 4.2 kW maximum output power, an electron beam source (EBS) of 1.8 MeV and 10.8 kW maximum output power and a multimode rectangular cavity (MRC), used as reaction chamber, in which are injected both MW and EB fields. The most important parameters for high SO2 removal efficiencies obtained by MW technology are water and ammonia concentration, the gaseous mixture temperature during irradiation process and MW power level. The most important parameterfor high NOX removal efficiency obtained by MW technology is MW power level. The removal efficiencies obtained by MW processing were up to 95 % for SO2 and up to 55 % for NOr The additional use of EB irradiation to MW exposure strongly increases NOX removal efficiencies in comparison with MW exposure only, up to 95%, simultaneously providing very high values for the SO2 removal efficiency, near 100%.

Use of electron beam irradiation to improve the microbiological safety of Hippophae rhamnoides

Sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides) is increasingly used in food supplements due to its dietary and medicinal compounds with a beneficial role in human diet and health. As many other medicinal plants, sea buckthorn can be contaminated with microorganisms which exerts an important impact on the overall quality of the products. Irradiation is an effective method for food preservation because it is able to destroy pathogenic microorganisms keeping the organoleptic and nutritional characteristics of the foods. The objective of the present study was to investigate the application of electron beam irradiation in order to improve the microbiological safety of sea buckthorn. The experimental results indicated that the electron beam treatment might be a good method to remove undesirable microorganisms from sea buckthorn without significant changes in its active principles.

Microbial Decontamination of Angelica gigas Nakai Using Electron Beam Irradiation

This study evaluated the use of electron beam irradiation for decontamination of the Korean medicinal herb, Angelica gigas Nakai. Herb samples were irradiated at doses of 2, 8, and 16 kGy, respectively. Populations of microorganisms in Angelica gigas Nakai decreased by 2～3 log cycles at 8 kGy irradiation. Electron beam irradiation caused negligible changes in Hunter color L, a, and b values. Sensory evaluations of Angelica gigas Nakai confirmed that irradiation caused no significant changes in the organoleptic properties of the samples. These results suggest that electron beam-irradiated herbs retain a better microbial safety and sensory qualities, compared with the non-irradiated.

Grafting of PEO to polymer surfaces using electron beam irradiation.

A new method was developed for binding poly-(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to polymer surfaces that involves the use of electron beam irradiation in two steps. In the first, methacrylic acid was grafted and polymerized to a polymer surface, changing it from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Exposure of this surface to aqueous PEO solutions resulted in strong hydrogen bonding of the PEO, which was covalently grafted in a second radiation step. The PEO grafts were stable; they could not be removed with extensive washing with water, soaking in basic solution, or gentle mechanical scraping. Both monolayers and multilayers of PEO were formed. The density of the monolayers were found to have little dependence on the molecular weight or concentration of the PEO solution; multilayers could be controlled by varying the viscosity of the PEO solution and the method of application. The PEO-grafted monolayers were tested for their ability to prevent protein adsorption of cytochrome-c, albumin, and fibronectin. Monolayers of star PEO were the most effective, at best showing a 60% decrease in adsorption from untreated controls. One million molecular wight linear PEO monolayers were almost as effective as star monolayers, and 35,000 g/mol linear PEO was bound too closely to the surface, owing to its small size, to have much impact in preventing protein adsorption. The reason for the continued protein adsorption was believed to be due to a close grafting of the PEO to the surface, as well as the grafted methacrylic acid chains being long enough to extend through the PEO monolayer, thus being accessible on the surface.