Rusatom Healthcare is preserving food products by radiation abandoning the old method of using harmful preservatives. In this process, food can be preserved for a long time in a healthy manner without disturbing the quality.
Recently, Bangladesh Post reporter visited its factory in Dubna, a relatively new town in Russia, 125 kms away from Moscow.
Along with food products, Axenter, a concern of Rosatom provides a wide range of products treatment services including Medical devices, Packaging, Polymer products, Pharmaceutical products and Phytogenic raw materials.
Rusatom Healthcare is developing in four key areas turnkey integrated solutions for medicine; production and supply of isotope products (50 countries of the world); equipment for diagnostics and therapy; solutions for ionizing treatment of agricultural and food products.
RHC JSC is a division accumulating ROSATOM's expertise in the field of healthcare. The company was established at the facilities of ROSATOM enterprises and institutes with the aim of comprehensive development of medical technologies in Russia and abroad.
Food products: electron beam treatment makes it possible to effectively reduce the level of microbiological contamination of food products such as spices, seasoning, snacks, etc. to an acceptable level, increasing safety for the end user, as well as extending the shelf life of treated food products.
The treatment technologies available at ROSATOM allow extending the shelf life of products several times; in addition, ionizing radiation treatment is the only method that allows achieving a degree of purity of medical products 10-6 (ten to the power six). Ionizing radiation breaks chemical bonds of harmful microorganisms and leaves no residual traces.
Such sterilization ensures the death of pathogenic forms of microorganisms in the form of spores and non-pathogenic microorganisms inside a material. Due to the penetrating ability of ionizing radiation, it is possible to treat products while maintaining the integrity and tightness of the packaging.
Another advantage of this method is the absence of a "degassing' process in the technology — this means that the products are ready for use immediately after treatment.
The safety of this method has been confirmed by the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) and the IA. (International Atomic Energy Agency). All this ensures a growing worldwide demand for "cold" sterilization with ionizing radiation.
Ionizing radiation technologies are actively used in agriculture (cereals, nut, fruits and dried fruit, spices, seafood etc.) and in healthcare, for the sterilization of medical products (bandage, syringe, disposable clothing and gloves, pipettes, test tubes, etc.).
Rusatom Healthcare 'SC implements projects to create multifunctional centres for treatment of products with ionizing radiation in Russia and abroad. Since 2016, the Sterion Center (Lytkarino, Moscow region) created on the basis of the UEL 10-105 linear electron accelerator, has been providing sterilization services.
In addition, Rusatom Healthcare is building similar centres in Obronsk and Kazan. Besides, ROSATOM is building a food treatment centre in Uzbekistan. In 2022, Rusatom Healthcare JSC acquired a share in the capital of Axenter Company, the leading provider of services in industrial sterilization and electron beam treatment in Russia.
Medical devices: The use of ionizing methods is 3-10 times more technologically advanced, environmentally safe and cost-effective. Another advantage of the ion sterilization method lies in the fact that the products are placed in sealed packages, and their treatment is carried out in closed boxes supplied to the end user. Surgical clothing, dressings, medical containers, in vitro products and much more can be sterilized by ionizing radiation.
Packaging: Microbiological contamination in packaging materials can have significant adverse effects on the final packaged product, which often entails considerable financial and reputational costs for the manufacturer of packaging materials. That is why, it is vital to have a reliable, controlled process of sterilization / reduction of microbiological contamination of packaging.
Polymer products: Electron beam treatment is widely used for the production of heat-shrinkable products, curing of paint coatings, crosslinking of pipes and tubes (PEX), crosslinking of cable insulation, manufacture of automotive components and other products. The technology is based on the effect of interaction of a polymer with a beam of high-energy accelerated electrons.
The level of exposure is precisely established by the control of the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation, as well as by additional quality control methods, which make it possible to render materials with pre-determined new properties.
Pharmaceutical products - special requirements are imposed on the production of sterile medicines in order to minimize the risk of contamination by microorganisms and particles. To ensure quality in the manufacture of sterile preparations, it is necessary to adhere to carefully developed and validated production methods and procedures
Phytogenic raw materials: Special requirements are imposed on the production of sterile medicines and cosmetic products based on phytogenic raw materials in order to minimize the risk of contamination by microorganisms, particles. To ensure quality in the manufacture of sterile preparations, it is necessary to adhere to carefully developed and validated production methods and procedures.
Rusatom Healthcare Division, which makes part of Rosatom, among other things, implements projects to create multifunctional centres for treating products with gamma irradiation in Russia and overseas.