NE 101

Basics of Nuclear Engineering & Technology

Chapter 7:
Non Power Applications of
Nuclear Technologies
Dr. Ned Xoubi
‫الدكتور نضال الزعبي‬
Founder of the Nuclear Engineering Department

Fall Semester 2007/ 2008

Beneficial Applications of Nuclear Technologies

Medical Diagnoses and Treatment

Research Applications
ur

Industrial/ Manufacturing Applications o y ?
v e rg

Food Irradiation r o ne

Consumer Products p re
m
i ea

Safety and Security y
ll ucl
Agriculture a
e n


e r t

Pharmaceutical research w ho u

Biology a n i t

Art / Archaeology
C sw
v e

Materials science li

Environment

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 Medical Uses
Over 200 million nuclear-medicine
tests are performed each year all
over the world
PET image
More than 16 million patients are
treated with nuclear medicine

MRI image of the

human brain.
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 Therapeutic Uses

Radiotherapy (Direct radiation beam)

Gamma rays

Electron beams

X-radiation

Brachytherapy (Radiation from
internally deposited radioactivity)

Removable seeds (long half-life)
Therapy Machine used for

Permanent seeds (short half-life)Targeting Cancerous Tissue

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 Sterilization

Syringes
s in

Surgical gloves i ve
e L ne

Scalpel blades o pl n O
Pe ha
ch ys t

Many pre-packaged hospital o u a
T W
supplies are sterilized using We More
nuclear radiation

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 Sterilization

Baby powder, contact lens
solution, bandages, mascara and s in
i ve
other cosmetics, are sterilized e L ne
o pl n O
using nuclear radiation Pe ha
ch ys t
o u a
T W
We More

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 Research Use

Nuclear energy is being used in the automobile
industry, the aircraft industry, mining and
petroleum companies, pipeline companies,
construction companies, cable manufacturers,
and agriculture

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 Gauging

Monitor thickness of materials during
production

Sheet metal, aluminum foil

Newspaper

Measure wear on cutting/drilling tools

Other measurements

Amount of glue on postage stamp

Level of liquid in canned beverages

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 Food Irradiation

Food treatment comparable to
pasteurization

Kills pests/microorganisms
without food degradation

Controls sprouting

Does not make the food radioactive

FDA Approved

Must be labeled

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 Food Irradiation
Food irradiation is a process
in which ionizing radiation is
used to keep food fresh
longer and kill germs.
Some people have called
food irradiation a method of
cold pasteurization because
the radiation destroys the
disease-producing
microorganisms with radiation
energy instead of heat energy
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 Types of Food That are Being
Irradiated
Meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, some
vegetables, baked goods, prepared foods
Spices and other seasonings Strawberries
and some other fruits
Grain, fruit, vegetables, and other foods
subject to insect infestation
Bananas, avocados, mangos, papayas,
guavas and certain other non-citrus fruits
Potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger
Grain, dehydrated vegetables, other foods
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 Food Worldwide Application

Source ANS

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 Gamma - Radiography

This process uses gamma-

ray radioisotopes to test
materials for flaws such as
invisible cracks, defects and
occlusions in welds

More penetrating
Portable and easy to use

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 Neutron Activation
Neutron Activation is a
method of determining
the concentration of
elements in a wide
variety of samples,
accurately and precisely

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Consumer Products /Safety and Security

Smoke Detection Equipment

Self-powered Lighting in Exit Signs

Lighted Aircraft Instrumentation

Pharmaceutical Detection

Bomb/Weapons Detection

Scanning and Surveillance Equipment

Theft Deterrent Systems

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