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Electron beam treatment of wastewater is highly effective, but still relatively unknown in many industrial sectors. To increase the awareness of this application, Brazil has made the unit mobile, with support from the Republic of Korea. Worldwide, only a handful of transportable e-beam accelerators are in use for industrial applications. The truck-mounted accelerator will be able to visit industrial sites around the country with ease – showcasing how e-beam irradiation can solve wastewater challenges and providing an opportunity for in-person training. The mobile irradiator has already been tested for various applications in chemical, oil, and sanitation sectors, such as São Paulo Sanitation Company and Petrobras. It has also been used for training purposes including with the National Industrial Apprenticeship Service.  

“Together, we developed the mobile unit, which uses nuclear technology — an e-beam accelerator — to degrade organic compounds in wastewater,” said Wilson Calvo, Director of Research and Development, CNEN. “The main proposal is to reuse this water, for example from clothing production or industrial applications,” he said. 

The unit, equipped with a 700 keV, 28.5 mA and 20 kW industrial electron accelerator, was established by the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN), which is part of CNEN, supported by the IAEA technical cooperation programme, the Brazilian Innovation Agency, the National Research Council and Truckvan. Wastewater flows directly through the unit, where it is irradiated by the e-beam accelerator. This breaks down toxins and makes any additional conventional treatments more efficient. Up to 1000 cubic metres of wastewater can be treated every day.