Device and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material

Abstract

A device (10) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device (10) includes: an outer housing (40); a material inlet (43); a material outlet (44); a material guide channel (41) for guiding the material through the device (10) to the material outlet (44); at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam; and a treatment zone (19), located in the material guide channel (41), for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing while the material is free falling. The device (10) has at least one inner shielding section (51, 52) disposed within the outer housing (40) and enclosing the material guide channel (41) for shielding off radiation produced during treatment. A method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material using such a device (10) is also disclosed which includes: a) generating an electron beam, and b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the material, while the material is free falling in the treatment zone (19).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.