Longitudinal uniformity, time performance and irradiation test of pure CsI crystals

To study an alternative to BaF2, as the crystal choice for the Mu2e calorimeter, thirteen pure CsI crystals from Opto Materials and ISMA producers have been characterized by determining their light yield (LY) and longitudinal response uniformity (LRU), when read with a UV extended PMT. The crystals show a LY of ~ 100 p.e./MeV (~ 150 p.e./MeV) when wrapped with Tyvek and coupled to the PMT without (with) optical grease. The LRU is well represented by a linear slope that is on average around -0.6 %/cm. The timing performances of the Opto Materials crystal, read with a UV extended MPPC, have been evaluated with minimum ionizing particles. A timing resolution of ~ 330 ps (~ 440 ps) is achieved when connecting the photosensor to the MPPC with (without) optical grease. The crystal radiation hardness to a ionization dose has also been studied for one pure CsI crystal from SICCAS. After exposing it to a dose of 900 Gy, a decrease of 33% in the LY is observed while the LRU remains unchanged.Comment: Presented at Frontier Detectors for Frontier Physics,13th Pisa Meeting on Advanced Detectors, 24-30 May 2015 (2 pages, 4 figures

Cultural heritage preservation and conservation of archived materials: gamma radiation processing and characterization at the Calliope facility (Casaccia R.C., Rome - Italy)

Il presente Rapporto Tecnico riguarda le attività condotte presso la Facility di irraggiamento gamma Calliope (C.R. ENEA Casaccia, Roma, Italia) nell’ambito del IAEA Coordinated Research Project ‘F23032’-Research Agreement No. 18922/R0 (“Radiation Processing for Bio-Deteriorated Archived Materials and Consolidation of Porous Artefacts”). In particolare, la pubblicazione riguarda gli aspetti più critici relativi all’applicazione delle radiazioni ionizzanti per la conservazione ed il trattamento dei materiali archivistici e librari, soggetti ad attacco da parte di organismi bio-deteriogeni. Nel corso delle attività di ricerca, sono stati condotti studi su: 1) analisi microbiologiche in diverse condizioni di irraggiamento; ii) caratterizzazione chimico-fisica degli effetti indotti dalla radiazione gamma sui materiali trattati.The present Technical Report is related to the activities performed at the ENEA Calliope gamma irradiation facility (Casaccia R. C., Rome, Italy) in the framework of the IAEA Coordinated Research Project ‘F23032’-Research Agreement No. 18922/R0 (“Radiation Processing for Bio-Deteriorated Archived Materials and Consolidation of Porous Artefacts”). In particular, the publication is focused on the discussion of the most critical topics related to the application of ionizing radiation on archived materials preservation. The research activities are performed on: i) microbiological investigations to study the effect of dose rate and ambient irradiation conditions on the typical microbes present on archived materials; ii) instantaneous and post-irradiation effects on paper irradiated by gamma radiation using chemical and spectroscopic techniques

Study on the Durability of Recast Nafion/Montmorillonite Composite Membranes in Low Humidification Conditions

Nafion composite membranes were formed from a recasting procedure previously reported by the authors. Montmorillonite (MMT) was used as a filler in the recasting procedure, and dimethylformamide (DMF) was used as the casting solvent. Fuel cell tests performed with the recast membrane showed that at low relative humidity (R.H.) the conductivity of the MMT-containing membranes is 10% higher than that of the MMT-free samples. In order to investigate the durability of such composite perfluorosulfonate membranes, long-term fuel cell experiments have been carried out. Results evidenced a strong effect of low RH on the lifetime of commercial polymer membranes, but the addition of a small silicate amount to the polymeric membrane reduced strongly the membrane degradation

Optimization of paper characterization procedures for cultural heritage

La conservazione dei Beni Culturali è di importanza fondamentale per sostenere l’identità nazionale. Trattamenti con le radiazioni ionizzanti vengono utilizzati in tutto il mondo per la conservazione di opere d’arte costituite da materiali di origine naturale (carta, legno, pergamena) ma in Italia non sono ancora accettati del tutto, probabilmente a causa della non corretta conoscenza degli effetti indotti dalla radiazione sul manufatto. Da questo punto di vista, lo studio approfondito di questi effetti secondari e delle condizioni di irraggiamento che permettono di minimizzarli riveste un ruolo centrale. In questo report sono descritte procedure convalidate di caratterizzazione fisico chimica della carta, prima e dopo irraggiamento, con diverse tecniche sperimentali.Conservation and preservation of Cultural Heritage is of paramount importance to maintain the national identity. Ionizing radiation treatments are worldwide applied for conservation of artworks made from materials of organic origin (paper, wood, parchment, etc.) but in Italy they are not fully accepted probably due to the incorrect knowledge of the radiation induced effects on the artifacts. In this regard, the investigation of these secondary effects and of their minimization plays a key role. In this report, established procedures for the physico-chemical characterization of paper, before

Radiation processing for bio-deteriorated archived materials and consolidation of porous artefacts

Il presente lavoro illustra le applicazioni delle radiazioni ionizzanti (radiazioni gamma) nel campo dei Beni Culturali. Nonostante il molto lavoro svolto, occorre approfondire la valutazione dei vantaggi e dei limiti delle applicazioni delle tecnologie nucleare per queste applicazioni. Inoltre, e’ indispensabile utilizzare ben definite condizioni di irraggiamento (in termini di dose e intensità di dose, condizioni atmosferiche, pre-trattamenti dell’oggetto) seguendo linee guida condivise a livello scientifico internazionale. A questo scopo, la valutazione di possibili modifiche chimico-fisiche talvolta irreversibili indotte dalla radiazione ionizzante nei materiali trattati, definiti “effetti collaterali, rappresentano un importante aspetto da investigare al fine di garantire la salvaguardia dell’oggetto trattato e l’affidabile diffusione della tecnologia proposta. Le attività svolte presso l’impianto gamma Calliope dell’ENEA sono focalizzate sulla Conservazione e Prevenzione, con particolare riferimento alla rimozione di agenti bio-deteriogeni nel materiale d’archivio, e sul Consolidamento e la Protezione, in riferimento alle tecniche di consolidamento mediante radiopolimerizzazione in situ di materiale ligneo o lapideo danneggiato. Per quanto riguarda gli aspetti di conservazione, le tecniche di irraggiamento possono sostituire il tradizionale uso di metodi tossici o cancerogeni, risolvendo problemi associati ad aspetti di salute ed ambientali. La tecnica consente inoltre di trattare in tempi brevi e con eccellente riproducibilità, grandi quantitativi di materiale deteriorato, utilizzando procedure standard di controllo. Per quanto concerne i problemi di consolidamento, molti agenti biologici ed atmosferici possono indurre gravi e spesso irreversibili effetti di degradazione su materiale poroso, ligneo o lapideo. In questi casi, il consolidamento e la protezione superficiale avviene mediante l’impregnazione con sostanze naturali o sintetiche anche altamente tossiche, ma l’aspetto della penetrazione in profondità risulta comunque molto difficoltosa e spesso non garantita. Il trattamento del manufatto artistico con una soluzione diluita di precursori innovativi seguita da radio-polimerizzazione in situ, può rappresentare una valida soluzione sia dal punto di vista tecnico che ambientale per il consolidamento in profondità di materiale poroso.This paper regards the application of ionizing radiation (gamma rays) in Cultural Heritage. Despite much work has been done, it is necessary to increase knowledge on the advantages and limitations of nuclear technology for this kind of application. Besides, the statement of well defined irradiation condition (in term of irradiation dose and dose rate, environmental atmosphere, pre-treatment of the cultural heritage object) and the proposal of shared guidelines is extremely desirable. From this viewpoint, the evaluation of the often irreversible physical-chemical modification induced by ionizing radiation on treated materials, namely “side-effects”, represent an important goal to guarantee the safeguard of the treated artefacts and the a reliable diffusion of this technology. The ENEA activities performed at Calliope plant were focused on two different aspects: i) Conservation and preservation: bio-deteriogen eradication in archived materials, and ii) Consolidation and protection: degraded wooden and stone porous artefacts consolidation. As regards the conservation aspect, the radiation technology can replace the traditionally used toxic or carcinogenic methods, eliminating the associated health problems and environmental pollution. Large amount of bio-deteriorated objects can be treated in a very short time with excellent reliability, using controlled and standard procedures. Concerning the consolidation problem, many different atmospheric and biological agents, induce severe and somewhat irreversible degradation phenomena on wooden or stone artefacts (i.e. porous materials). Consolidation and surface protection of these degraded objects is usually obtained by the application of natural or synthetic consolidating agents but the penetration inside the porous material it rather difficult limiting the effectiveness of the treatment. Impregnation of the cultural artefact with a diluted solution of new formulation of consolidant precursors followed by radiation induced in situ polymerization represents a very promising solution to achieve actual bulk strengthening

Non-destructive approach to study the effects of gamma irradiation on wheat samples matrices

Questo studio esplora gli effetti dell’irraggiamento gamma su campioni di grano, con l’obiettivo di approfondire la comprensione della sua influenza sulla sicurezza alimentare, sulla qualità e sulla conservazione. Particolare attenzione è rivolta alle matrici alimentari ricche in polisaccaridi, come l’amido, che rappresentano componenti principali del grano. Il lavoro sperimentale è stato condotto presso la facility di irraggiamento gamma Calliope situata nel Centro Ricerche ENEA Casaccia (Roma), utilizzando una sorgente di cobalto-60. Impiegando tecniche non distruttive o in minima parte distruttive come le spettroscopie ATR-FTIR, Raman ed EPR, abbiamo analizzato i cambiamenti composizione, strutturali e del contenuto di radicali indotti da dosi gamma che vanno da 0.1 kGy a 10 kGy. Come tendenza generale, l’irraggiamento gamma fino a 10 kGy non produce una notevole degradazione o depolimerizzazione dei componenti del grano. Più nel dettaglio, le variazioni spettrali evidenziano cambiamenti molecolari dose-dipendenti, in particolare nelle strutture dei carboidrati e dell’amido, con implicazioni per la sicurezza alimentare e la percezione del consumatore. I risultati contribuiscono a promuovere l’irraggiamento gamma come metodo di conservazione non termico e sostenibile per diverse matrici alimentari, in linea con gli obiettivi globali di sicurezza e approvvigionamento alimentare. Questi approcci, che richiedono una preparazione minima dei campioni, possono essere estesi allo sviluppo di metodi di screening per una vasta gamma di polisaccaridi in diverse colture.This study explores the effects of gamma irradiation on wheat samples, with a focus on improving our understanding of its influence on food safety, quality, and preservation. Particular attention is given to food matrices rich in polysaccharides, such as starch, which are key components of wheat. The experimental work was conducted at the Calliope 60Co gamma irradiation facility at the ENEA Casaccia Research Centre (NUC-IRAD-GAM Laboratory, Rome). Employing non-destructive or minimally destructive techniques such as ATR-FTIR, Raman and EPR spectroscopies, we analysed compositional, structural, and radical content changes induced by gamma doses ranging from 0.1 kGy to 10 kGy. As a general trend, gamma irradiation up to 10 kGy does not produce remarkable degradation or depolymerization of wheat components. In more detail, variations in spectral data highlight dose-dependent molecular changes, particularly in carbohydrate and starch structures, with implications for food safety and consumer perception. The findings contribute to advancing gamma irradiation as a non-thermal, sustainable preservation method for diverse food matrices, aligning with global food security and safety goals. These approaches requiring minimal samples preparation can be extended in the development of screening methods for a wide range of polysaccharides in a variety of crops

Gamma irradiation for Cultural Heritage conservation: Comparison of the side effects on new and old paper

Ionizing radiations, commonly applied as diagnostic tools in Cultural Heritage (CH) field, are also proving effective for eliminating biodeteriogens (insects, fungi, bacteria and molds) responsible for the degradation of CH artifacts and often harmful for restorers, archivists and librarians. The use of ionizing radiations, such as gamma rays, for CH treatments is spreading in many countries. However, some CH operators remain resistant due to insufficient knowledge about the potential physico-chemical modifications (secondary effects) induced by radiation. This work aims to investigate and compare the effects of irradiation parameters (such as absorbed dose and dose rate) on old paper samples and new pure-cellulose paper, chosen as a reference model material. Absorbed doses up to 8 kGy have been used, as these values are commonly agreed upon for the preservation treatment of CH artifacts and are generally effective for biodeteriogens removal. Optimizing irradiation conditions helps to minimize secondary effects (such as oxidation, depolymerization or color changes), thereby increasing the reliability of the process and boosting confidence among CH operators. The secondary effects were analyzed using various physico-chemical characterizations (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Raman microscopy, viscosimetric and colorimetric analysis) on old and new paper samples. The results indicate varying behaviors, correlated with paper composition, sample age and irradiation parameters, towards gamma radiation. This groundbreaking study not only confirms the efficacy of gamma irradiation treatments but also provides essential data that will aid in the development of optimized best practice protocols and guidelines for non-destructive and minimally destructive methods applied to real case studies and treatments

Effects of gamma radiation on engineered tomato biofortified for space agriculture by morphometry and fluorescence-based indices

Introduction: Future long-term space missions will focus to the solar system exploration, with the Moon and Mars as leading goals. Plant cultivation will provide fresh food as a healthy supplement to astronauts’ diet in confined and unhealthy outposts. Ionizing radiation (IR) are a main hazard in outer space for their capacity to generate oxidative stress and DNA damage. IR is a crucial issue not only for human survival, but also for plant development and related value-added fresh food harvest. To this end, efforts to figure out how biofortification of plants with antioxidant metabolites (such as anthocyanins) may contribute to improve their performances in space outposts are needed. Methods: MicroTom plants genetically engineered to express the Petunia hybrida PhAN4 gene, restoring the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in tomato, were used. Seeds and plants from wild type and engineered lines AN4-M and AN4-P2 were exposed to IR doses that they may experience during a long-term space mission, simulated through the administration of gamma radiation. Plant response was continuously evaluated along life cycle by a non-disturbing/non-destructive monitoring of biometric and multiparametric fluorescence-based indices at both phenotypic and phenological levels, and indirectly measuring changes occurring at the primary and secondary metabolism level. Results: Responses to gamma radiation were influenced by the phenological stage, dose and genotype. Wild type and engineered plants did not complete a seed-to-seed cycle under the exceptional condition of 30 Gy absorbed dose, but were able to cope with 0.5 and 5 Gy producing fruits and vital seeds. In particular, the AN4-M seeds and plants showed advantages over wild type: negligible variation of fluorimetric parameters related to primary metabolism, no alteration or improvement of yield traits at maturity while maintaining smaller habitus than wild type, biosynthesis of anthocyanins and maintained levels of these compounds compared to non-irradiated controls of the same age. Discussion: These findings may be useful in understanding phenotypic effects of IR on plant growth in space, and lead to the exploitation of new breeding efforts to optimize plant performances to develop appropriate ideotypes for future long-term space exploration extending the potential of plants to serve as high-value product source

Gamma irradiation Calliope facility at ENEA-Casaccia Research Centre (Rome, Italy)

Nel presente Rapporto Tecnico viene descritta la facility di irraggiamento gamma Calliope situata nel Centro Ricerche ENEA Casaccia (Roma). Viene presentata una breve descrizione dei processi fisici che caratterizzano l’interazione radiazione gamma – materia e le tecniche dosimetriche (dosimetri Fricke, Red-Perspex, radiocromici, alanina-ESR, TLD e RADFET) utilizzate presso il Calliope per determinare la dose assorbita nei materiali irraggiati. E’ inoltre presentata una breve descrizione delle attività di qualifica e di ricerca, condotte nell’ambito di progetti e collaborazioni nazionali ed internazionali con industrie ed istituti di ricerca, in cui la facility Calliope è coinvolta.In the present Technical Report the Calliope 60Co gamma irradiation facility at the ENEA Casaccia Research Centre (Rome) is described. A brief description of the physical processes involved in the gamma radiation interaction with matter and the dosimetric methods (Fricke, Red-Perspex, radiochromic, alanine-ESR, TLD and RADFET dosimeters) used to determine the absorbed dose at the Calliope facility is given. Qualification and research activities performed at Calliope in the framework of national and international projects and collaborations with industries and research institutions are briefly described

Thermoluminescence dosimeters characterization with 60Co gamma radiation at ENEA Casaccia Research Center

Questo report presenta uno studio sulla caratterizzazione dei dosimetri a termoluminescenza (TLD) utilizzando radiazioni gamma da Cobalto-60 presso la facility Calliope e l'Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti (INMRI) del Centro di Ricerca ENEA Casaccia. Vengono trattati la teoria della termoluminescenza, il processo di lettura del TLD e le tecniche di valutazione della dose e le relative tecniche di calibrazione. I dosimetri utilizzati, in particolare i TLD 100, la procedura di irraggiamento e calibrazione sono descritti nel dettaglio. Vengono presentati i risultati della calibrazione a bassa dose e un confronto con le calibrazioni precedenti effettuate presso l'INMRI. Inoltre, vengono forniti confronti tra dosimetria Fricke e TLD per brevi tempi di irraggiamento e basse dosi, e vengono introdotti i risultati ottenuti nel caso di schermatura. Questo studio mira a migliorare l'accuratezza delle misure della dose, soprattutto per campioni organici di dimensioni ridotte per possibili applicazioni in radiobiologia.This report presents a study on the characterization of thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) using 60Co gamma radiation at the Calliope Facility and the National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology (INMRI) of the ENEA Casaccia Research Center. It covers thermoluminescence theory and the TLD reading process, followed by dose evaluation and calibration techniques. The dosimeters used, particularly TLD 100, are described in detail, with an explanation of the irradiation process and calibration procedure. Results from low-dose calibration and comparisons with previous INMRI calibrations are presented. Additionally, comparisons between Fricke and TLD dosimetry for short irradiation times and low dose rates are included, along with discussions on shielding. This study aims to enhance the accuracy of dose measurements, especially for small organic samples for possibile radiobiological applications