What ionizing radiation are used for sterilization?
gamma irradiation
Ionizing radiation is a type of short wavelength radiation that carries enough energy to free electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby ionizing them. This article focuses on gamma irradiation, which is most commonly used for sterilization purposes.
How does ionizing radiation kill bacteria?
The ionizing radiation sends enough energy into the bacterial or mold cells in the food to break chemical bonds. This damages the pathogens enough for them to die or no longer multiply, which reduces illness or spoilage.
What type of radiation is used for sterilize medical instruments?
gamma radiation
The standard sterilization method for many medical devices and food samples over the past 40 years involves gamma radiation. However, when applying gamma radiation for sterilization of tissue allografts and polymer medical devices, structural changes are induced.
What is ionizing and non-ionizing radiation?
Radiation is classified as being either non-ionizing or ionizing. Non-ionizing radiation is longer wavelength/lower frequency lower energy. While ionizing radiation is short wavelength/high frequency higher energy. Ionizing Radiation has sufficient energy to produce ions in matter at the molecular level.
What are the two advantages of ionizing radiation as a sterilization method?
Radiation kills germs that can cause disease and neutralizes other harmful organisms. Sterilization with ionizing radiation inactivates microorganisms very efficiently and, when used for product wrapping, ensures that healthcare products are safe and can be relied upon.
Why ionizing radiation is more effective over the non ionizing radiation in case of sterilization?
Ionizing radiation is the use of short wavelength, high-intensity radiation to destroy microorganisms. Non-ionizing radiation uses longer wavelength and lower energy. As a result, non-ionizing radiation loses the ability to penetrate substances, and can only be used for sterilizing surfaces.