Overview of radiation processing in China Kenneth Hsiao

Overview of radiation processing in China Kenneth Hsiao Dasheng Electron Accelerator

Relative importance of different applications q Modification of polymers q Medical Sterilization q Food

Modification of polymers q Areas of application § Wire & cable over 10 k manufacturers (solar, railway, automobile, house…) § Heat shrinkable material over 200 manufacturers § Polyethylene foam § PE packaging film § Battery membrane § PTC

Medical Sterilization q Products § Disposable gloves, gown, syringe, lab ware… q ETO: more than 75% q Gamma: around 20% q EB: less than 5%

Food q Pickled chicken feet over 400 k tons a year q Pet food q Dehydrated vegetables q Spice & seasoning q Seafood: frozen and dry

Food q Quantity of irradiated food in China Source: Sichuan Institute of Atomic Energy

Electron Beam qestimated 380 electron beams installed by end of 2012 (source: China Isotope & Radiation Association) q 301 EB (close to 80%) made in China q 238 EB (>60%) was installed after 2008 (~50 /year) q. Over 30 Linac (10 Me. V) q 6 Rhodotrons qestimated about 450 beams running in China to date

Electron Beam q Applications Source: CIRA 2012

EB Service Centres q. Dasheng 22 q. Woer 18 mainly in house q. El Pont 17 q. Changyuan 13 mainly in house q. Kaiheng 12

EB + X-ray capabilities q Electron manufacturers § Linac: Nuctech, CIAE (China Institute of Atomic Energy), Vanform, Elpont, Gray, Hiwits, Superpower High Tech § DC Type: Dasheng, Elpont, Hiwits. All with X-ray capability

Gamma q Over 140 gamma irradiators operative in China § Design capacity over 160 MCi § Actual loading about 60 MCi § Over 40 irradiators designed over 1 MCi q Over 60 gamma irradiators have been shut down in the past ten years: § Too old and too small § Sub-standards § Urbanization: become centers of many cities q About 8 under construction

Gamma Centers q. Zhongjin Irradiation • 11 radiators across 7 cities in China q. CIR (China Isotope & Radiation Corp)-CNNC • 4 locations across China q. Beijing Hongyisifang Radiation Technology

Gamma source capabilities q Cobalt Producer § CNNC Tongxin Nuclear Technology (part of CIR) • Produces about 6 MCi of cobalt-60 a year • China needs about 10 MCi to 12 MCi annually q Gamma irradiator manufacturers § CNNC Bine (part of CIR) § SQHL

Factors that will impact development q EB § Too much competition among producers of EB § More competition among the service centers q Gamma § § Not enough domestic Co-60 supply Imported Co-60 price seem to go up Too many research centers getting into the market Too much competition

Expected development q EB+X-ray § More application markets will be developed in the areas of tire industry, surface curing, environment, sterilization … § EB & X-ray will continue to grow strong at rate of 3050 machines a year for the next few years § X-ray will continue to improve the efficiency and be more economical than gamma q Gamma will slow down and more small operators will close down due to strict safety requirement q M & A, PE

Thank you d. EA www. dasheng. com