Also called e-beam or sometimes mistakenly beta sterilization, this sterilization technique is particularly used to treat medical or pharmaceutical devices in their final packaging. What is electron beam sterilization? Which products is it suitable for, and how does the process work? IONISOS, an expert in industrial sterilization, provides professional insight.
What does electron beam sterilization involve?
Electron beam sterilization exploits the properties of beta rays, which alter the DNA or RNA of microorganisms, leading to their destruction. Products, packaged in boxes, are exposed to radiation from an electric generator that accelerates electrons. The resulting beam sterilizes the products it passes through.
The electron beam sterilization process occurs in four steps:
- Products are conveyed into the irradiation chamber. Adjusting the accelerator parameters and speed ensures the precise dose required for optimal sterilization.
- Products pass under the beam for the first time and absorb the energy. The electron beams prevent any microorganism from reproducing, causing cell death.
- The boxes of products are then automatically turned by a robot and returned to the conveyor.
- A second pass under the electron beam ensures complete sterilization, known as double-sided treatment.
What are the advantages of electron beam sterilization?
Beam irradiation offers several benefits. First, it only requires a few seconds of exposure and does not require a resting or degassing phase. Products are treated directly in their final packaging.
Next, e-beam sterilization adapts to multiple products and materials: single-use medical devices, prostheses, pharmaceutical, veterinary, or cosmetic products, electrical items… This process does not affect the properties of the products.
Finally, this technique is environmentally friendly, as it requires neither chemical inputs nor special thermal conditions, making it an ecological sterilization solution.
Why choose IONISOS for sterilizing medical devices and other products?
Since 1956, our group has focused on continuous innovation in industrial sterilization. Today, IONISOS operates twelve treatment sites, each dedicated to a specific technique: ethylene oxide, gamma rays, electron beam, and X-rays.
We currently have four centers dedicated to beta sterilization: Chaumesnil in France, Bautzen in Germany, Däniken in Switzerland, and Tarancón in Spain. Our sites hold ISO certificates guaranteeing process safety and product sterility.
Thanks to an automated conveyor system, we optimize the treatment time of your products. Each site has its own laboratory capable of performing necessary tests and controls to ensure quality. Additionally, IONISOS offers each client a quality contract and rigorous follow-up with a dedicated advisor.
Do you want to learn more about electron beam sterilization or our other technologies? Contact IONISOS for a solution tailored to your needs.
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