What does beta treatment consist of?

Like gamma treatment, e-beam treatment is a method of sterilization by radiation. The basic principle is largely the same: products are placed on an automatic conveyor system and transported at a certain speed inside a cell where they will be exposed to rays for a specified duration.

However, the nature of beta rays differs from gamma rays as they are generated by electric generators. These generators produce accelerated electrons between two electrodes, forming a beam of rays a few centimeters in diameter. The products pass under the beam to be irradiated. In this way, microorganisms and bacteria present inside and on the surface of the products are destroyed, achieving perfect sterilization.

Beta radiation has a more limited penetration capability than gamma radiation for a higher dose. Therefore, products to be sterilized are loaded in packages rather than pallets. Each package is exposed to the rays for just a few seconds during two passes: first on one side, then on the other, using a rotating package system.

The Multiple Advantages of E-beam

E-beam irradiation is a sterilization technique advantageous for several reasons:

• It is performed at room temperature and leaves no chemical residue. Unlike ethylene oxide sterilization, which requires a degassing phase, products are immediately available once conformity control tests are completed. This helps avoid immobilizing the supply chain.
• It allows for the sterilization of an entire load within a few hours.
• The risks of oxidation are more limited with beta treatment. This method is therefore compatible with a wide range of materials and resins whose composition may not always allow for gamma treatment.
• It has a very broad range of applications: single-use medical devices, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, cables…