Ionizing Radiation: A Versatile Tool for Developing Sustainable Waste Management Strategies

Ionizing radiation (gamma rays, electron beams) is an environment friendly, efficient and versatile tool for remediation of toxic pollutants, household and industrial waste in a scientific and sustainable manner. The present chapter will specifically cover the role of ionising radiations in the judicious management of two different waste forms: textile industry wastewater and sewage sludge, as well as in the remediation of toxic heavy metal ion that afflict our water bodies. The interaction of ionising radiation with matter yields chemically reactive species such as radicals, ions and electrons, whose unique properties can be harnessed for novel applications through polymer processing (grafting, crosslinking, degradation, curing, etc.), sterilization and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. Working on these fundamental principles, radiation processing of materials has been used to develop ecologically sustainable waste management strategies for remediation of industrial wastewater including textile dye effluents, metal ions and for radiation hygienization of sewage sludge generated during treatment of domestic sewage water. Radiation grafted functional adsorbents play an important role in efficiently removing pollutant moieties from contaminated water. The radiation hygienization of sewage sludge is also of immense societal significance considering its crucial role in the efficacious management of infectious sewage sludge through conversion to a pathogen free form. The addition of a consortium of beneficial bacteria can further fortify the carbon rich radiation hygienized sludge to transform it into an enriched organic manure for agricultural applications. In line with the UNs sustainable development goals (SDGs), radiation technology offers an effective, economical, reproducible, scalable and safe management process for providing a cleaner and healthier environment.