Radiation Technology Applications for Industry and Environment

1
Radiation Technology Applications for Industry
and Environment

• M. Haji-Saeid
• Industrial Applications and Chemistry Section
  IACS
• Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences (NAPC)
• Dept. of Nuclear Sciences and Applications (NA)
• Seminar on Nuclear Science and Technology for
  Diplomats
• Vienna, 6-8 February , 2007
• Programme-I Radioisotope Production and
  Radiation Technology

2
Radiation Technology Applications for Industry
and Environment

• Outline of Presentation
• Introduction to principles and classification of
  applications
• Radiation processing technology
• Industrial radiotracer investigations
• Radiography - NDT

3
Features of radioisotopes and radiation and basis
for their applications
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

• Radioisotopes emit characteristic radiation,
  detectable with great sensitivity
• Accelerators based ionizing radiation
• ?

4
Features of radioisotopes and radiation and basis
for their applications

• Radiation can destroy microbes (bacteria)
• Radiation sterilization of medical products
  disinfestation of food and agricultural products
  sewage sludge for safer disposal (and even
  possible use as fertilizer)
• Radiation can initiate chemical reactions
• Radiation processing applications for
  polymerization, modification of material
  properties, treating effluents (flue gas,
  wastewater) to become innocuous
• Radiation technology applications for industry
• Process monitoring, QC, trouble-shooting,
  radiography, nucleonic gauge, gamma scanning

5
Radiation processing technology

• Radiation penetrate through matter
• Attenuation of radiation by matter interposed
• Radiation can be back scattered

heat
radiation
UV sunlight MV oven EM - radiation
How we treat materials ?
6
Sources for Radiation Processing in Industrial
Scale Operations

• Gamma radiation sources High intensity 60Co
  sources from 0.1MCi to gt2MCi
• Electron Accelerator (EB) machines of Energy
  low (300-700keV), medium (2-3MeV) high
  (5-10MeV) and Power medium (20-100kW)
  and high (0.5-1MW)
• Electron mode X-ray mode

7
Components of Gamma Irradiator
8
TV vs. accelerator how it works
ELECTRON ACCELERATOR HOW IT WORKS ?
9
RHODOTRON
10
Global Status of Radiation Processing Facilities

• Gamma irradiator plants 160
• gt20 are of gt1MCi Co-60 capacity
• Electron accelerators 1300
• 300keV to 10MeV energy of electrons and 10kW to
  1 MW power
• About 650 plants in USA and more than 300 plants
  in Japan installed during the past 30 years.

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APPLICATION OF RADIATION

Human Health Materials
Environment
12
Radiation Processing Applications for Economical
Value Addition

• Microbial destruction for achieving
• Sterilization
• Disinfestation / Hygienisation
• Industrial Radiation Chemical Processing/
  Manufacture Value addition to products /
  processes
• Cross-linking of polymers
• Curing of polymer coatings
• Graft polymerization
• Polymer degradation
• Gem stones
• Bio-materials
• Medical products - Hydrogels

13
Radiation Sterilization of Healthcare Products

• Radiation processing is a cold process with
  several advantages over the traditional methods.
  25kGy (2.5MRad) of dose, internationally well
  accepted, for extremely high sterilization
  factor.
• High reliability
• Processing in the final packaging form
• No residual toxic substances
• Suitable for most of the heat sensitive products
• Automated, continuous irradiation facility with
  only one parameter to be controlled.

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STERILIZATION

• Medical devices
• Packing
• Labware
• Raw materials
• Some cosmetics and pharmaceutical goods

15
X-RAY BLOOD STERILIZER
Self-contained dry-storage gamma irradiator
suitable for research and small irradiations
16
HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS

• Crosslinking
• Grafting
• Degradation

17
RADIATION CROSSLINKING

• Increase in modulus and strength
• Resistance against stress cracking corrosion
• Decrease in ultimate elongation
• Improvement of long-time behaviour under inner
  pressure

• Improvement of the dimensional stability under
  heat influence
• Improvement of flame redundancy
• Improvement against solvents , oil and water

18
Industrial applications of polymer modified by
radiation processing
2004
Grafting
2003
toxic metal removal from incinerator
Crosslinking
Bedsore prevention mat
2000
1999
1997
Grafting deodorizer
hardwearing fluororesin
Wound dressing
1994
1985
Button battery
1979
Air filter for clean room
Electric deionizer
heat-resisting cable
Super-heat resistance SiC fiber
Radial tire
1970
PE foam
19
PRODUCTS MOSTLY CROSSLINKED

• Cables and wire insulation or their sheathing
• Tubes , mostly PE tubes (PEXc type)
• Heat shrinkable tubes
• Moulded articles

20
Radiation cross-linking improves thermal,
mechanical, chemical properties

• Free from chemicals
• Rapid process
• Energy saving
• Value addition to products
• Cross-linked insulation in cables/wires, LDPE
  O-rings for harsh conditions e.g. temperature
  (locomotives, automobiles)

21
Thermo shrinkable Tapes
22
RADIATION CROSSLINKING

• Total hip replacement

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
The "artificial(knee) joint generally has two
components, one made of metal which is usually
cobalt -chrome or titanium. The other component
is a plastic material called polyethylene
23
Hydro Gel Wound Dressing
24
Hydrogel burn/wound dressings by radiation
synthesis cum sterilization

• Sterile cover
• Cooling effect
• Regulates O2 supply
• Healing progress fast
• Less scar formation
• INGREDIENTS
• Poly Vinyl Alcohol
• Natural Polysaccharide like Agar
• Distilled Water
• Advantages
• Cross linking sterilization in one step
• Bio-compatible materials
• Cost effective

25
Commercial name Non-bedsore
Advantages of gel mat 1. Keeps body temperature
for long time 2. Disperses body
pressure   Advantages of gel 1. Biodegradable
hydrogel 2. Non-toxic (very safe)
26
Effect of low-molecular-weight chitosan/alginate
mixture on cucumber growth
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FOOD IRRADIATION

• Inactivation of harmful organisms in food
  ingredients
• Inactivation of salmonella food poisoning micro
  organism
• Extension of refrigerated shelf life
• Control of parasites and insects
• Inhibition of sprouting

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ART OBJECTS PRESERVATION The use of radiation
for decontamination and conservationof a
cultural property to prevent microbial
contamination.
Cobalt-60 sources
Wooden objects of art an of historical value
attacked by woodworms are treated using a
Cobalt-60 Gamma ray facility with absorbed doses
between 0.5 kGy and 1 kGy Photo from Central
Bohemia Museum Roztoky Prague Czech
Republique Cobalt-60 chamber with activity of 350
TBq (9,450Ci)
29
Radiation aided glitter

• Colour enhancement of diamonds, gem stones

• Radiation Sources Gamma Rays, Electrons,
  Neutrons
• Electrons, gamma rays preferred because,
• Uniformity of coloration
• No induced radioactivity
• No localized heating
• Diamonds into fancy diamonds

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ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

• Environment protection is one of the most
  important issues to be solved in the world.
• SOx , NOx , PAH , fly ash are emitted to the
  atmosphere
• Chemical pollutants and pathogens are present in
  waters and sludge

31
Radiation Processing Applications towards
Protection of the Environmental Safety

• Environmental Protection Measures
• Direct Role
• Treatment of flue gases from burning fossil
  fuels removal of SO2 and NOx
• Sewage sludge hygienisation
• Detoxification of industrial wastewater
• Indirect Role - Reduction in the use of hazardous
  chemicals / release of pollutants
• Vulcanization of natural rubber latex (NRL)
• Viscose rayon manufacture

32
Radiation Processing Applications towards
Protection of the Environmental Safety

• Flue gas treatment to tackle SOx , NOx , PAH ,
  fly ash emitted into atmosphere from fossil fuel
  power plants
• Salient Features
• Simultaneous removal S and N oxides
• By-product is useful fertilizer
• No secondary waste
• Economics
• Poland, China, Bulgaria

33
E-beam flue gas treatment process
34
TC PROJECT IN POLAND ON FLUE GAS CLEANING
Pilot plant for cleaning flue gas (from coal
burning) in operation
Bulgaria, Ukraine, China, Japan
35
Industrial plant for EBFGT
36
EB plant in Bulgaria for flue gas treatment from
lignite with high sulphur content
37
Radiation Processing Applications towards
Protection of the Environmental Safety

• Industrial wastewater detoxification To tackle
  chemical pollutants and pathogens present in
  wastewaters - Rep. of Korea
• Sludge hygienization
• To render sewage sludge safe for disposal and
  possible use as fertilizer India

38
Why Electron Beam Processing? - Control the
number of coli-forms in the effluent - Remove
odor, color and reduce other residues for re-use
in irrigation or industrial purposes -
Bio-system is no good to control the number of
e-coli - Ozone, UV and others are not good for
large quantity
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Schematic Diagram of a Pilot Plant
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Construction of Demonstration Facility
Industrial Plant for Treating Wastewater
from Dyeing Process - Decrease the Amount of
Chemical Reagent up to 50 - Improve the
Efficiency of Biological Treatment by 30 -
Decrease the Retention time in Biological
Treatment Facility Characteristics of Industrial
Plant - Maximum flow rate of 10,000m3/day
with one 1MeV, 400kW accelerator - Combined
with existing Biological Treatment Facility
Construction Schedule -The actual
construction started on Summer of 2004, and
finished by the end of 2005. (Actual
construction was 17 months)
41
High power electron accelerator and wastewater
treatment system at Daegu Dye Industry Complex in
Republic of Korea
42
Comparison of Disinfection systems
Chlorination UV radiation Ozone Electron beam
Enhances color removal. Effective biocide Least expensive disinfection. Effective against bacteria viruses at low dosages. More effective than chlorine for inactivation of viruses. Biocidal activity is not influenced by pH. Very effective against bacteria viruses at low dose. Enhances color, taste odor. Simple design and feasible to large scale.
Chlorine gas is a hazardous corrosive gas. Water with high calcium, turbidity phenols may not be applicable to UV disinfection. Maintenance cost of UV lamp is high. byproducts are formed (bromide, aldehydes, ketones). Initial cost of ozonation equipment is high. Needs Shielding (X-ray)
43
Role of Radiation Technology in Disinfection Of
Sewage Sludge Using Radiation

• High energy radiation is a very efficient and
  reliable tool for inactivating bacteria.
• Radiation technology is being used worldwide in
  sterilization of medical products commercially
  and for food irradiation.
• The sewage sludge can be similarly irradiated for
  disinfection.

44
Typical pathogens present in sludge and their
concentrations

• Microorganism Concentration per 100 ml
• Coliforms 107 109
• Fecal Coliforms 106 108
• Fecal Streptococci 106 107
• Salmonella 1-100
• Anaeobic spore foring bacteria
• Parasites and viruses

45
Scheme of EB sewage sludge hygienization
installation
46
Sewage Sludge Hygienization FacilityVadodara,
India
47
IAEA role in Radiation Processing Applications

• CRPs
• Radiation synthesis of stimuli-responsive
  membranes, hydrogels and adsorbents for
  separation purposes (2001-2004)
• Controlling of degradation effects in radiation
  processing of polymers (2003-2006)
• Remediation of polluted waters and wastewater by
  radiation processing (2002-2006)
• EB treatment of volatile organic pollutants in
  gaseous streams (2004-2008)
• TC projects
• Technical support to more than 30 TC projects

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Industrial Process control and safety(radiotracer
s, sealed sources and nucleonic gauges)

• Enhance quality, productivity, reliability and
  safety
• Improve efficiency
• Reduce production down-time
• Make workers performance easier
• Reduce industrial pollution
• Save money

49
Gamma scanning of industrial columns, vessels and
pipes

• Liquid level on trays
• Presence or absence of internals, such as trays,
  demister pads, packing, distributors
• Extent and position of jet and liquid stack
  flooding
• Position and density characteristics of foaming
• Purpose Process malfunction/defect
  identification to optimisation of function for
  better productivity
• 60Co 10-50 mCi or even more 137Cs 30-50 mCi
• Tomography feasibility to add higher value.

50
Gamma scanning of industrial columns for
troubleshooting / inspection
51
Nucleonic Control System (NCS)/ Nucleonic Gauging
Improving product quality, saving energy and
materials

• Gauges for thickness, density, moisture, level in
  industries - paper, plastic, steel, tobacco,
  material filling
• Purpose Process control Quality Control (QC)
  testing
• Productivity Safety
• Sources 241Am 137Cs 60Co 192Ir
• n source 252Cf, 241Am-Be
• Nucleonic gauges are mostly a part of modern
  industrial machinery.

Thickness gauge for paper production
52
Low activity borehole logging and coal face
analyser
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Radiotracers Applications

• CRPs
• Industrial process gamma tomography (2003-2006)
• Validation of tracers and software for inter-well
  investigations (2004-2008)
• TC Projects
• Technical support to more than 10 projects

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Radiography of Ship Weld
Most industries rely on radiography related NDT
methods welds, castings, machine components,
concrete structures, bridges, dams, pipelines,
pressure vessels, shielding casks Chemical,
Aircraft, Automobile, Railway, Nuclear, Space
Page 55/Diplomat Seminar Aug. 00/Sood/21-Jul-20
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Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

• Inspection of metalic and concrete structures

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Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

• Corrosion and deposit determination in large
  diameter pipes, with and without insulation, by
  radiography testing

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• NDT Activities
•   
• PROMOTION OF NDT USE AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT TO
  MS
• PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONISATION FOR
  TRAINING CERTIFICATION OF NDT PERSONNEL -
  SUPPORTING ISO 9712
• ASSISSTANCE IN ESTABLISHING NATIONAL
  ACCREDITATION CERTIFYING BODIES IN MS
• FACILITATE ESTABLISHING PROFESSIONAL NDT
  SOCIETIES
• STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP - COOPERATION WITH
  ICNDT
• IAEA Publications on NDT
• Training Course Series
• IAEA TECDOC 628/Rev.1 - Training Guidelines
  in NDT
• Techniques 2002 Edition- will be
  updated in 2007
• IAEA TECDOC Validation of Protocols for
  Corrosion and Deposits Evaluation in Small
  Diameter Pipes by Radiography

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NDT - Coordinated Research Projects

•   CRPs
• Corrosion and deposit determination in large
  diameter pipes, with and without insulation, by
  radiography testing (2002- 2005)
•  
• To develop an on-line technique for
  monitoring of remaining wall thickness of large
  diameter pipes (gt150mm O.D.) - Vital information
  for many industrial installations and a
  supplement to the proposed ISO draft standard in
  continuation of a previous CRP.
•  
• Industrial Digital Radiography (2006-2010)
• New digital radiography tools - detectors,
  techniques, protocols etc - to supplement
  classical techniques in industrial radiography.
• TC projects
• Technical support to more than 20 TC projects

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CONCLUSIONS

• Radiation and isotopes play big role in the
  national economy
• Radiation technology opens new possibility of
  effective environment clean up.

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THANK YOU

• February 2007