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IMRP19 (Strasbourg, France – April 2019)

International Meeting on Radiation Processing (IMRP)

General overview:

The 19th International Meeting on Radiation Processing (IMRP19) was held in Strasbourg, France, from April 1-5, 2019. The event featured a three-day main conference, a professional exhibition, two pre-conference workshops, poster presentations, technical visits before and after the conference, along with numerous networking opportunities. For the first time, a training course was offered for students and young professionals at the University of Reims in the week leading up to the conference. The program focused on two plenary days and introduced additional panel discussions facilitated by a professional moderator.

IMRP19 provided a unique opportunity for those involved in the global irradiation community to come together, emphasizing the significance of irradiation in everyday life. The event highlighted the contributions of passionate and exceptionally able scientists who have and continue to identify new products and applications that require access to radiation processing.

The IMRP19 theme: ‘Where Business and Science Connect’

Find comprehensive coverage of IMRP19 at the ‘IMRP Report: The Business and Science of Radiation Processing in 2019’ publication.

Regional Sponsors

Aerial, IBA

Program

Pre-IMRP Training Course in Radiation Processing for Advanced Materials at the University of Reims Champagne Ardennes

The Pre-IMRP Training Course in Radiation Processing for Advanced Materials, co-organised by the University of Reims Champagne-Ardennes (URCA) and the International Irradiation Association (iia), was a three-day event attended by 29 graduate students from 14 countries. Featuring expert presentations and lab demonstrations, the course provided an overview of radiation processing for material enhancement. It complemented IMRP by offering scientific and technological insights, helping young professionals expand their knowledge and integrate this with commercial aspects of IMRP, which in turn helps to create future industry leaders.

Conference overview

Dosimetry Workshop

The dosimetry workshop, which took place on April 1st (first day of the conference), was organised in cooperation with the Irradiation Panel, sponsor of the event. Mark Bailey (DTU, Denmark) addressed the fundamentals of dosimetry, while Deepak Patil (STERIS AST) discussed measurement uncertainty and elaborated on the Standard Guide for Measurement of Uncertainty of Dosimetry for Radiation Processing. Peter Sharpe from (NPL, UK) explained how traceable dose measurements are achieved and lost. Arne Miller (DTU, Denmark) covered the use of dosimetry for process definition, IQ, OQ, and PQ, sharing numerous practical tips.

Following the oral presentations, participants had the opportunity for hands-on practice with various dosimetry equipment provided by Aerial.

Gamma Workshop

Discussions included Nordion’s explanation of the tight cobalt-60 supply and their short- and long-term solutions. Challenges in cobalt-60 transportation and updates on shipment denials were covered, along with increased security expectations and compliance strategies. New groups such as NNSA, WINS, and NTI have been established to enhance security requirements and mitigate the risk of damage or theft. Sandia presented the Device Delay program, which includes kits designed to increase the response time for first responders during an incident. The ORS developed International Response Training courses to equip site staff, security personnel, and local law enforcement with the necessary skills to handle critical security incidents involving radiological sources. The workshop concluded with a Q&A session.

Technical tours

Aerial and BGS made their facilities available for tours immediately before and after IMRP.

Aerial was visited by 120 delegates on three separate tours, with the highlight being their brand new (at the time) FEERIX irradiation facility, which features an IBA TT300 Rhodotron with two beam lines, a 10MeV E-Beam, and a 5 or 7 MeV X-ray.

BGS was visited by 80 delegates at their Bruchsal, Germany site, where the company operates two electron accelerators with an energy range of 4.5MeV, including a large conveyor system capable of treating dimensions up to 12m x 1.2m by E-Beam. Delegates also viewed BGS’s gamma irradiator, which opened in May 2018 with a maximum capacity of 6 million curies of cobalt-60. Additionally, one of BGS’s application specialists demonstrated the effectiveness of irradiation on various materials.

Awards

IMRP Laureate Awards

IMRP19 Scientific Laureate Award Recipient: Maria Helena Sampa, Brazil

Maria Helena Sampa earned an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Technology Applications from IPEN/University of São Paulo, Brazil. She led the Research and Development Division at IPEN/CTR from 1976 to 2005 and served as President of the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Association (ABEN) from 2000 to 2002. A founder of RadTech South America, she was a Technical Officer in Radiation Processing Technology at the IAEA from 2006 to 2011. Her accolades include the 2001 “Carneiro Felipe” Medal and the 2002 “Friends of Navy” Medal. Currently, they consult on radiation processing technology for the IAEA, IPEN, and CNEN.

IMRP19 Business Laureate Award Recipient: Yves Hénon, France

Yves Hénon earned a diploma in Agronomy from the Institute National Agronomique in Paris and an M.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Louisiana State University. In 1980, he joined the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) at the Cadarache Nuclear Research Center, where he advanced the commercial use of food irradiation in France. After seven years in government, he transitioned to the private sector, managing gamma irradiators for 20 years and establishing facilities in France, Thailand, and Malaysia. In 2006, he founded his own consultancy firm, specializing in radiation processing, and supported the establishment and commercialization of irradiation facilities. A strong advocate for ISO standards and quality assurance systems, Henon received the National Quality Award from French President Jacques Chirac in 1996. Over a career spanning nearly 40 years, he organized technical meetings, authored numerous articles, and contributed to books on irradiation. As a member of iia team, he has informed, trained, and inspired many, remaining a passionate proponent of food irradiation.

Poster Awards

  • ‘Continuous electron induced reactive processing – a sustainable reactive processing method’ Authors: Carsten Zschech, Mathias Pech, Sven Dr. Wießner, Ines Dr. Kühnert, Uwe Gohs, Michael Thomas, Dr. Muller. Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF), Composite Materials, Dresden, Germany.
  • ‘Cancer drugs modified by gamma radiation showed enhanced efficacy in cancer treatment’ Authors: Remigius A. Kawala, Fatuma J. Ramadhani, Byung Y. Chung, Hyoung-Woo Bai. Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI); University of Science and Technology, Korea.
  • ‘Comparison between gold nanoparticles synthesized by radiolysis and by EGCG-driven gold reduction’ Authors: Lucas F. de Freitas, Jorge G. S. Batista, Adrianna K. Cavalcante, Ademar B Lugão. Centro de Química e Meio Ambiente (CQMA), Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN), São Paulo, Brazil.

Committees

Organising Committee:

  • Martin Comben, iia OC Chair
  • Paul Wynne, iia

Program Committee:

Links to IMRP19 Publication, Photographs, and Videos

Find comprehensive details of IMRP19 by clicking this link to the ‘IMRP Report: The Business and Science of Radiation Processing in 2019’ publication.

Photographs taken at IMRP19 can be found by viewing this file: IMRP19 Photo Gallery

Videos:



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