Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

An apparatus and method for killing pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms using low-energy x-rays including a shielding assembly that maximizes internal deflections preventing x-rays from escaping the apparatus enclosing an irradiation zone having a passageway between inlet and outlet portions along a conveyor having either a two-level inline or non-linear geometry that continuously moves the articles to be irradiated through the irradiation zone at a first velocity; and an irradiation chamber housing at least one x-ray having a first power level capable of emitting x-rays for a period of time sufficient to provide at least a predetermined dose of radiation to an article and capable of a maximum continuous power output at 100% duty cycle that is selected from within range of from approximately 16 kW to approximately 20 kW to thereby continuously emit low-energy x-rays having energies of from approximately 10 KeV and up to a maximum of approximately 440 KeV.