Page 33 - PR 2014 2016 03 Applications of Ionizing Radiations

Applications of Ionizing Radiations | Progress Report 75

fied, including gamma scanning of columns, CTR performs research of process to induce
vessels and pipes, level and interface detection. or intensify the color in several gemstones
Since 1983, the Radiation Technology Center using electron beam and gamma radiation.
(CTR) has supplied industrial gamma sealed Enhancement services of colorless Brazilian
sources to more than 25 customers in Bra- quartz and other types of precious stones have
zil and other countries in Latin America and been performed in the Gamma Multipurpose
Caribbean. Annually, the laboratory, (FIG 50) Irradiator and Electron Beam Accelerator for
produces 280 sealed sources, with activities the companies Murta Gems Trade Gemstones
ranging from 740 GBq (20 Ci) to 4,444 GBq (120 (Minas Gerais State), Stoll Precious Stones of
Ci) of Iridium-192 and from 0.37 GBq (10 mCi) Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul State), Legep Mining
to 18.49 Gbq (500 mCi) of Cobalt-60. The CTR (São Paulo State), Indobrás United (São Paulo
has made 290 inspections in irradiators, com- State) and Geosciences Institute of São Paulo
mand cables and guide pipes annually and also University (São Paulo State). The figures 51 and
Selenium-75, Tantalum-182 and krypton-79 52 show colored varieties of Brazilian quartz
sources, loading services. These supplies allow obtained to enhancement processes using
taking more than 100,000 radiographies per gamma radiation and heating.
year. The principal CTR’ customers are Arctest,
ASNDT, Brasitest,CBC, JLM, Confab, Nuclep,
TopCheck, Gamatron, Qualitec, Engisa, Capaz,
Endlabor, NDT, Sperj, Polyteste, Usiminas, Real
WDR, Nuclep, Radiolab,Voigth Hydro, Metaltec,
Startec, Accend and Sertech.

Use of radioisotopes as tracers
in the environmental and Figure 51. Colored varieties of Figure 52. Rough and cut green
irradiated quartz
industrial process control treated quartz.

Radioactive tracers, as bromine 82, and dye Environmental Recovery
tracer, as rhodamine WT, are applied to a
grounded pipe flow rate measurements. Flow
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rate order of magnitude 0.1 m /s up to 3.5 m /s. Radiation processing of effluents
Radioactive tracer, iodine-131, applications and toxicity removal
for mean residence time determinations in
tank and digesters of domestic and industrial Radiation processing of real effluents is the
wastewater treatment plants. Volume order of main target of this process being studied at En-
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magnitude: 7,000 m up to 12,000 m . vironmental Assay Laboratory (LEBA/CTR). The
LEBA Laboratory rare living organisms applied
Gemstones enhancement for toxicity measurements mainly for liquid
using gamma radiation samples of industrial effluents and standard
pharmaceutical solutions. Combining ecotox-
It’s estimated that 70% of the world’s produc- icology studies and radiation technology may
tion of gemstones have been submitted to guarantee that radiation may reduce toxicity
enhancement process and have consequent- of treated effluents, offering a safe technology
ly increased in commercial value. Thus, the or its combined processes for complex effluent.