**2. Electron beam processing in industrial irradiation**

Electron beam irradiation is an environmentally friendly technology that uses electron energy to initiate a range of physical, chemical, and biological effects without the use of chemical compounds, high temperature, and pressure. The high kinetic energy and penetrating power of electrons offer significant advantages over the traditional methods used for processing biological objects and materials [1, 18, 19].

An important advantage of accelerated electrons over other radiation sources is their ability to vary the beam current and electron energy [20]. By varying the beam current, it is possible to change the intensity of radiation and, consequently, the dose rate absorbed by the treated object. Varying the energy of electrons allows to control the depth of electron penetration throughout the object, depending on the purpose of irradiation treatment.

Electron accelerators are classified according to the energy levels of electrons they generate [1, 21]. Low-energy electron accelerators with energies ranging from 0.08 to 0.8 MeV are commonly used for the treatment of surfaces with a mass thickness of up to 0.2 g/cm<sup>2</sup> . Medium-energy electron accelerators, which generate 0.8–5 MeV electrons, are used for the treatment of objects at the depth not exceeding 0.5 g/cm<sup>2</sup> . High-energy electron accelerators with energies of 5–10 MeV are applied for sterilization of medical supplies and instruments, biological materials used in transplantation, food processing, treatment of biowaste, decomposition of industrial effluents, as well
