Speaker
Description
With the development of radiation techniques, attempts were made to use both gamma radiation and electron beam radiation for the disinfection of various types of historical objects that were inhabited by microorganisms or insects, which ended up causing the objects' destruction. . However, these technologies suffer from some limits as total dose and dose rate can influence the efficient elimination of bio-burden, with an increase in deterioration and changes in the material during radiation treatments.
In this work cotton and jute fabrics were s used as simulated ancient shrouds. The fabrics were aged by heating at 100 ◦C for 72 h. The textile fabrics was cut into 10 × 3 cm (length × width). The experimental samples were infected with the selected species within the used media through a direct incubation period for 20 days in order to be infected with the species that may affect the ancient shroud. The influence of electron beam irradiation on cotton and jute -based objects was evaluated in order to determine safe effective dose for cellulosic materials. To avoid over-exposure, a wide range of doses from 3 kGy up to20 kGy were studied and many analytical techniques were used to determine possible changes of mechanical, chemical and physical properties of treated cotton and jute -based objects. Infrared spectra of irradiated samples before and after ageing by heat method were recorded. The effect of irradiation on post-irradiation effects and appropriate irradiation procedures for wider use of the technique was evaluated. The results showed that there were slightly changes in the IR spectra of all irradiated samples compared with spectra of untreated sample. ESR studies showed that the amount of radical formed increased, by radiation and decayed by time. In conclusion it is possible to use the electron beam for disinfection and preservation of cotton and jute textile used as funeral shroud in ancient Egypt with insignificant effects on their properties.
