Beneficial Applications Of Cobalt-60 in Radiation Processing
Cobalt-60 (60Co) is a synthetic radioactive isotope of cobalt with a half-life of 5.2713 years. It is produced artificially in nuclear reactors. Deliberate industrial production depends on neutron activation of bulk samples of the monoisotopic and mononuclidic cobalt isotope 59Co. Measurable quantities are also produced as a by-product of typical nuclear power plant operation and may be detected externally when leaks occur. In the latter case (in the absence of added cobalt) the incidentally produced 60Co is largely the result of multiple stages of neutron activation of iron isotopes in the reactor's steel structures[5] via the creation of its 59Co precursor. The simplest case of the latter would result from the activation of 58Fe. 60Co undergoes beta decay to the stable isotope nickel-60 (60Ni).
Benecial Applications Of Cobalt-60 Radiation Processing Include:
Medical Devices
The primary application of Cobalt-60 continues to be the sterilization of single-use medical devices such as surgical gowns, latex gloves, catheters, scalpels, bandages and implants. These medical devices can be processed in their nal packaging as gamma irradiation using Cobalt-60 has the ability to penetrate the devices in their packaging and sterilize the materials within. Today a very broad range of medical products, including complex devices, are routinely sterilized using gamma irradiation. The technology remains a key sterilization technology and hence an important part of healthcare manufacturing around the world.
Food Treatment
Certain foods and food ingredients are treated with gamma irradiation to make them safer, reduce spoilage and extend shelf life. Irradiation can kill parasites and microorganisms that can lead to food poisoning and can prevent pests from developing in stored product, replacing the use of chemical preservatives and pesticides.The World Health Organisation and many other international organisations have concluded that food treated by irradiation poses no particular toxicological, microbiological or nutritional problem and various categories of food can now be irradiated in approximately 80 countries.
Other Applications
A broad range of other products and materials benet from exposure to ionising radiation – other applications include: the modication of polymers to improve their thermal and mechanical characteristics; the decontamination of cosmetic raw material and applicators; the treatment of fresh produce to prevent the spread of disease and consumption of crop by invasive species of insects; the preservation of cultural heritage items; and the treatment of gemstones to improve their colour.
Other Non-processing
ApplicationsIn addition to its applications in radiation processing, Cobalt-60 is used as a radiation source for medical radiotherapy where it is used in cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells. Cobalt-60 is used as the radiation source in Gamma Knife equipment that enables non-surgical treatment of brain tumours.
In industry Cobalt-60 is used for industrial radiography, a form of non-destructive testing; in well logging, particularly in the oil exploration industry; and in the printing industry to monitor the ‑ow of inks and thickness of paper.
Cobalt-60 plays an important role in the scientic community, from stem cell research to the design and testing of components for the aerospace and nuclear energy industries.
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