Germ-free packaging with radiation sterilisation

The trend in the manufacture of cosmetic products and foodstuffs towards the avoidance of preservatives also makes effective sterilisation necessary. Blasting treatment has become established for the rapid and cost-effective throughput of large quantities of packaging material: Through a Treatment with beta, gamma or X-rays plastic packaging such as bag-in-box systems (bib), inliners, flexitanks or ampoules, bags, bottles, cans and tubes can be sterilised so that they do not microbially contaminate the product to be packaged. Pathogens such as salmonella in particular are efficiently eliminated even at low irradiation doses of 15 kGy. „We also irradiate closures as well as exhaust valves and limiters such as sliding levers - all in the transport packaging. We never open the boxes,” explains Barbara Schmitz, an expert in sterilisation and disinfection using radiation at BGS, the process.

Electron radiation has a high dose rate and a limited penetration depth, whereas gamma radiation has a high penetration depth and a relatively low dose rate. Electron beams are characterised by their ability to, irradiate individual packages within a few seconds. In contrast, irradiation in gamma systems takes several hours. Due to their high penetration depth, gamma rays are able to penetrate entire pallets or containers. „The products to be irradiated can usually be guided through the irradiation process directly on the delivery pallets,“ explains Barbara Schmitz. „The blasting used creates no radioactivity for physical reasons."

If the products are suitable for irradiation, disinfection and sterilisation using electron or gamma rays are a good choice for time-sensitive supply chains. After the irradiation process, the radiation dose applied is checked using dosimeters attached to the product. If everything complies with the specifications, it is immediately released by quality assurance.