IAP linacs in applied research

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 1996-06, Vol.113 (1), p.106-109
• Main Authors: Martin, D., Dragusin, M., Radu, A., Oproiu, C., Radoiu, M., Cojocaru, G., Marghitu, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/0168-583X(95)01343-1

The results of the applied research with linacs, built in the Institute of Atomic Physics (IAP), in the field of electron beam irradiation of acrylamide-acrylic acid and acrylic acid-vinyl acetate aqueous solutions, to produce polymeric flocculants of the PA and PV type, respectively, are presented. The special features of the IAP linacs are also described. The use of low-output-power, high-energy IAP linacs in the field of electron beam processing was mitigated thanks to the remarkable properties of the processes developed for our polymeric flocculants. The absorbed dose levels needed to produce PA and PV flocculant types are rather small, from 0.4 to 1 kGy and from 3 to 4 kGy, respectively. These results helped us to make the assumption that old low-output-power, high-energy linacs are economically attractive for commercial production of these types of flocculants. The estimate of processing rates for a linac of 1 kW output power and 5 to 10 MeV energy is up to 2000 kg/h for the PA type and up to 500 kg/h for the PV type. Due to the ever growing ecological problems we are facing, research and engineering studies are being carried out to put an old ALID-7 linac of 700 W and 5.5 MeV in a pilot station. With the ALID-7 linac it could be possible to satisfy the required production of flocculants for municipal sludge dewatering in our country.