What is Beta Sterilization?

Electron beam treatment (also known as beta or e-beam) involves exposing products, packaged in cartons or bags, to a radiation stream generated by an electron accelerator. Electrical generators accelerate electrons in a vacuum electromagnetic field to form a concentrated continuous beam. The products are automatically transported via a conveyor system under the electron beam. The accelerator’s parameters and the conveyor speed allow us to adjust the dose absorbed by the products.

As the products pass under the beam, they absorb the energy from the electrons: living molecules (DNA, RNA, metabolic enzymes, etc.) are altered, preventing reproduction and leading to the cell death of microorganisms and pathogens.

Typically, two passes are required to treat each carton (carton flipping): this is called double-sided treatment.

Only a few seconds of irradiation per side are needed.

The Multiple Advantages of E-Beam Treatment

E-beam irradiation is an advantageous solution for treating your products:

• Speed: With only a few seconds of treatment per package, it’s easy to sterilize a full load in just a few hours. With this sterilization technique, your products are available immediately after treatment, thus avoiding production line downtime and potential storage costs.
• The reduced exposure time of products to the beam minimizes the risk of alteration and polymer degradation, especially with plastic materials like polypropylene. Therefore, this method serves as an interesting alternative to gamma radiation, which can sometimes cause such reactions.
• Compatibility with a wide range of products: medical devices, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, laboratory animal feed, cables, semiconductors, and more.
• Environmental respect: Sterilization is performed at room temperature without chemical additives, making it an eco-friendly solution.