Apparatus and method for killing pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms using low-energy X-rays

A method for killing pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms using low-energy x-rays comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one x-ray source including an externally grounded end-type beam window x-ray tube having a window perpendicularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the x-ray tube with a non-rotating large area anode with an outer surface parallel to the beam window;
• the at least one x-ray source capable of a maximum continuous power output at 100% duty cycle that is selected from within the range of from approximately 16 kW to approximately 20 kW to thereby continuously emit low-energy x-rays having energies of from approximately 10 KeV and up to a maximum of approximately 440 KeV;
• providing at least one article to be irradiated, the at least one article being characterized by an initial organism population;
• and
• exposing the at least one article to be irradiated to low-energy x-rays emitted by the at least one x-ray source for a period of time sufficient to provide a dose of radiation to the at least one article that achieves at least a predetermined reduction in the initial organism population, and wherein the low-energy x-rays emitted by the at least one x-ray source to which the at least one article is exposed are primarily bremsstrahlung-type x-rays characterized by a continuous range of energies from that of the most energetic electron downwards, this range of energies being of from approximately 10 KeV up to a maximum of approximately 440 KeV, wherein the maximum energy of the x-ray spectrum of the at least one x-ray source to which the article is exposed is selected according to the article being irradiated so as to maximize the amount of x-ray radiation which incompletely penetrates the article.

An apparatus for irradiating foodstuffs, the apparatus comprising:

• a conduit adapted for the movement therethrough of a foodstuff to be irradiated, the conduit having inlet and outlet ends and defining a passageway therebetween, the inlet and outlet ends defining a path of travel through the conduit for the foodstuff to be irradiated;
• means for moving the foodstuff to be irradiated through the conduit at least a first velocity;
• and
• at least one x-ray tube disposed within the passageway between the inlet and outlet ends in the path of travel of the foodstuff to be irradiated, the at least one x-ray tube capable of emitting an x-ray beam having energies exclusively in the range of below approximately 250 KeV.

An apparatus for irradiating foodstuffs, the apparatus comprising:

• a conduit adapted for the movement therethrough of a foodstuff to be irradiated, the conduit having inlet and outlet ends and defining a passageway therebetween, the inlet and outlet ends defining a path of travel through the conduit for the foodstuff to be irradiated;
• means for moving the foodstuff to be irradiated along the path of travel through the conduit at least a first velocity;
• and
• at least one x-ray tube positioned substantially external of the conduit and arranged so that an x-ray beam emitted by the at least one x-ray tube is propagated substantially in a direction that is perpendicular to the path of travel of the foodstuff to be irradiated through the passageway, the at least one x-ray tube being capable of emitting an x-ray beam having energies exclusively in the range of below approximately 250 KeV.