Simultaneous Removal of Various Pesticides from Contaminated HDPE Packaging by Radiation Processing: Electron Beam and Gamma Radiation Comparison

Abstract

Radiation processing is widely used for medical product sterilization and polymeric materials
irradiation. Moreover the use of irradiation is becoming a common treatment for many others
applications, including wastewater, flue gases, and solid waste materials. In order to evaluate the
efficiency of radiation processing on removal of pesticides contamination, high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) packaging were irradiated using Radiation Dynamics Electron Beam Accelerator with 1.5MeV
energy and 37 kW power, and a Cobalt-60 gamma irradiator, Gammacell type, at the rate 3.5 kGy/h.
The chemical analyses of the pesticides were accomplished using a Gas Chromatography associated
with the Mass Spectrometry - GCMS from Shimadzu, Model QP 5000. With 25 kGy absorbed dose, a
total removal of methomyl, dimethoate, carbofuran, and methydathion, and more than 80% removal
of triazine, thiophos, and atrazyne were reached. Lower removal rates were obtained for endosulfan
(54%), chlorpyrifos (69%), thriazophos (79%), and trifluralin (74%).