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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Healthy Processed Foods Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #321861
Research Project: Defining, Measuring, and Mitigating Attributes that Adversely Impact the Quality and Marketability of Foods

Location: Healthy Processed Foods Research

Title: Building lab-scale x-ray tube based irradiators

Author
item Haff, Ronald - Ron
item Jackson, Eric
item Gomez, Joseph - Jose
item Light, Douglas
item Follett, Peter
item SIMMONS, GREG - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item HIGBEE, BRAD - Paramount Farming Company, Inc

Submitted to: Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2015
Publication Date: 12/17/2015
Citation: Haff, R.P., Jackson, E.S., Gomez, J., Light, D.M., Follett, P.A., Simmons, G.S., Higbee, B.S. 2015. Building lab-scale x-ray tube based irradiators. Journal of Radiation Physics and Chemistry. 121:43-49.

Interpretive Summary: Economical x-ray tube based irradiators were designed and constructed in a variety of configurations using 1000 Watt x-ray tubes. Single tube, double tube, and four tube designs as well as various cabinet construction techniques are described. Relatively high dose rates were achieved for small samples, demonstrating feasibility for laboratory based irradiators for research purposes. Amount of x-ray radiation exposure per second (dose) within an instant rice container of 9.76, 5.45, and 1.7 Gy/min/tube were measured at the center of a five inch container of instant rice at 100keV, 70 keV, and 40 keV, respectively. Dose uniformity varies dramatically as the distance from source to container.

Technical Abstract: The construction of economical x-ray tube based irradiators in a variety of configurations is described using 1000 Watt x-ray tubes. Single tube, double tube, and four tube designs are described, as well as various cabinet construction techniques. Relatively high dose rates were achieved for small samples, demonstrating feasibility for laboratory based irradiators for research purposes. Dose rates within an instant rice container of 9.76, 5.45, and 1.7 Gy/min/tube were measured at the center of a five inch container of instant rice at 100keV, 70 keV, and 40 keV, respectively. Dose uniformity varies dramatically as the distance from source to container.