Page 79 - 00. Complete Version - Progress Report IPEN 2014-2016

Application of Ionizing Radiations | Progress Report 79

nically complex, continuously operating indus- It’s estimated that 70% of the world’s produc-
trial plants. Due to this fact, the application of tion of gemstones have been submitted to en-
sealed sources becomes more diversified, in- hancement process and have consequently
cluding gamma scanning of columns, vessels increased in commercial value. Thus, the CTR
and pipes, level and interface detection. Since performs research of process to induce or in-
1983, the Radiation Technology Center (CTR) tensify the color in several gemstones using
has supplied industrial gamma sealed sources electron beam and gamma radiation. Enhance-
to more than 25 customers in Brazil and oth- ment services of colorless Brazilian quartz and
er countries in Latin America and Caribbean. other types of precious stones have been per-
Annually, the laboratory, (FIG -1) produces 280 formed in the Gamma Multipurpose Irradia-
sealed sources, with activities ranging from tor and Electron Beam Accelerator for the com-
740 GBq (20 Ci) to 4,444 GBq (120 Ci) of Iridi- panies Murta Gems Trade Gemstones (Minas
um-192 and from 0.37 GBq (10 mCi) to 18.49 Gerais State), Stoll Precious Stones of Brazil (Rio
Gbq (500 mCi) of Cobalt-60. The CTR has made Grande do Sul State), Legep Mining (São Paulo
290 inspections in irradiators, command ca- State), Indobrás United (São Paulo State) and
bles and guide pipes annually and also Seleni- Geosciences Institute of São Paulo University
um-75, Tantalum-182 and krypton-79 sources, (São Paulo State). The figures 51 and 52 show
loading services. These supplies allow taking colored varieties of Brazilian quartz obtained
more than 100,000 radiographies per year. The to enhancement processes using gamma ra-
principal CTR’ customers are Arctest, ASNDT, diation and heating.
Brasitest,CBC, JLM, Confab, Nuclep, TopCheck,
Gamatron, Qualitec, Engisa, Capaz, Endlabor, Environmental Recovery
NDT, Sperj, Polyteste, Usiminas, Real WDR, Nu-
clep, Radiolab,Voigth Hydro, Metaltec, Startec, Radiation processing of effluents
Accend and Sertech. and toxicity removal

Use of radioisotopes as tracers
in the environmental and
industrial process control

Radioactive tracers, as bromine 82, and dye
tracer, as rhodamine WT, are applied to a
grounded pipe flow rate measurements. Flow
rate order of magnitude 0.1 m3/s up to 3.5 Figure 51. Colored varieties Figure 52. Rough and cut
of treated quartz. green irradiated quartz
m3/s. Radioactive tracer, iodine 131, applica-
tions for mean residence time determinations Radiation processing of real effluents is the
in tank and digesters of domestic and indus- main target of this process being studied at
trial wastewater treatment plants. Volume or- Environmental Assay Laboratory (LEBA/CTR).
der of magnitude: 7,000 m3 up to 12,000 m3. The LEBA Laboratory rare living organisms
applied for toxicity measurements mainly
Gemstones enhancement for liquid samples of industrial effluents and
using gamma radiation standard pharmaceutical solutions. Combin-
ing ecotoxicology studies and radiation tech-