Device and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material

An apparatus for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material, comprising:

• at least two electron sources for generating an electron beam,
• a treatment zone, in which the material, freely falling, can be pasteurized and/or sterilized by means of the electron beam,
• a material channel arranged in a region of the treatment zone, in which the material can be pasteurized and/or sterilized by means of the electron beam, wherein the at least two electron sources are arranged opposite each other with respect to the freely falling material,
• two flat protective elements arranged between the at least two electron sources and the material channel, wherein each flat protective element is at least partially transparent to the electron beam, and
• the apparatus includes at least one holding frame which holds the two flat protective elements and which has a cavity through which a cooling fluid can flow,
• the apparatus comprising a cassette holder and a cassette with the at least one holding frame for the two flat protective elements,
• wherein the cassette contains the complete material channel.