Performance of the Electron Beam Fluidized Bed Process For Disinfection and Disinfestation of Stored Products

摘要

A high velocity fluidized bed has been used to present product to a medium energy electron beam permitting effectively isotropic treatment of each (air) suspended particle. A pilot system is described based upon a 250 kV self-shielded Electrocurtain~R accelerator which has been used for several years for surface disinfection (I.e. Microorganism elimination) of a variety of agroproducts. Disinfestation studies (I.e. Insect elimination) in winter wheat have used product velocities to 2000 m.min~(-1) for the evaluation of mortality of various life stages of "internal" feeders, such as the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae), which spends some 3 weeks at 30°C inside the grain kernel in its larval stage before emergence as an adult. Results are presented for the determination of the electron energies required to achieve effective larvicidal treatment for internal feeders in winter wheat.