Report of
FNCA 2009 Workshop on Application of Electron Accelerator
- Radiation Processing of Natural Polymer -

The 2009 FNCA Electron Accelerator Application Workshop was held on March 1st - 5th, 2010 at the Center for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation Technology, National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting was attended by delegates from eight (8) FNCA member countries, namely Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, and also a Malaysian Coordinator as a representative of IAEA/RCA.

At the beginning, Dr. Hudi Hastowo, Chairman, National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) delivered the opening remarks and welcomed all participants to the workshop. Following a presentation on FNCA Ministerial Level Meeting and project overview by Dr. Sueo Machi, a total of eight (8) country report presentations on radiation processing and application of chitosan including the results of the field tests using the same oligo-chitosan samples produced in BATAN were presented. It was concluded that the oligo-chitosan led fruitful effects of Plant Growth Promoter (PGP) on tomato, potato, carrot, sugarcane, rice and chili.

Japan's country report mentioned the effects of Oligo-gulcosamine L, which is a PGP product industrialized in Japan as a plant activator of cyclamen and lawn grass in golf course. Malaysia reported the results of rice field test conducted in large scale of 24 ha. Crop yield increased by 5% and germination test and blast study showed that oligochitosan can replace commercial germination compounds and synthetic fungicides.

Dr. Khairul HJ MOHD DAHLAN, IAEA/RCA Project Lead Country Coordinator, gave a presentation on the IAEA/RCA project activities on radiation processing of natural polymer.

On the second day, the participants discussed the optimized technology and cost of production of oligo-chitosan by radiation processing as well as the work plans for 2010-2011. Cost analysis revealed that PGP cost depends on the cost of raw materials and processing of chitosan. On the morning of the third day, participants presented their country reports on production of hydrogel (Super Water Absorbent (SWA)) by radiation cross-linking and grafting of starch/ polysaccharides. It has been found in some pot and fields tests that SWA increases germination, plant growth, and yield of crops. SWA has been practically used in Vietnam for valuable tea, coffee, and pepper, and the field test of rubber, cassava, dragon fruit are on-going. It was reported that germination rate was improved by using SWA in experimental scale test in Thailand. In the afternoon, an open seminar titled "Perspective of Radiation Processing Application" was held in the center. About eighty (80) people from various institutions including research sectors, universities, and corporations were in attendance. An exhibition, which consisted of natural polymer based products commercialized in member countries and posters showing their research activities, were also held.

On the fourth day, participants made presentations on optimum condition and raw materials and conceptual design of production of SWA by radiation, followed by discussions. It was stressed that further researches are needed on some production process and cost for different raw materials as well as properties of products in terms of water absorption capacity and degradation in soil. The work plans for 2010-2011 were then discussed. The importance of collaborative Research and development (R&D) on SWA with agricultural scientists including farmer was strongly stressed in order to promote the SWA products for field test. Participants also visited BATAN Exhibition Center and were familiarized with the results of several researches and development of the Institute. Other facilities visited were gamma irradiator facility in Center for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation Technology (CAIRT-BATAN) such as Gamma irradiator of IRKA (medium dose rate) and multi purposes gamma irradiator PANORAMA (low dose rate) and radiation.

On the final day, wrap-up discussion on future plan including new proposals was carried out and the workshop minutes were adopted.

Minutes of
FNCA 2009 Workshop on Application of Electron Accelerator
- Radiation Processing of Natural Polymer -

1) Outline of Workshop

2) Workshop Program

Session 1. Opening Program

Dr. Hudi Hastowo, Chairman, National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) delivered the welcoming remark to open the workshop officially and express warm welcome to all participants. The participants briefly introduced themselves, thereafter, the workshop program was presented and adopted without changes. The list of participants of the workshop is attached as Annex 2.

Dr. Sueo Machi, FNCA Coordinator of Japan, gave a presentation on FNCA Ministerial Level Meeting and project overview.

Session 2. Radiation Processing and Application of Chitosan

Dr. Ir. Gatot Trimulyadi REKSO, Senior Scientist, Center for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation Technology, National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) delivered a presentation about production technology of chitosan from crab and shrimp shells. He emphasized that the method used for extraction of chitin and chitosan play an important role in the preparation of quality chitosan acceptable for sale in the market. The most important operational variables in preparation of chitosan were deacetylation time and temperature. Economic analysis for home industry production of chitin was also given in the presentation.

Dr. Darsono BAHRUM, Research Professor, Division of Accelerator Technology delivered a presentation on research and development of electron beam in Indonesia. The electron beam (EB) technology was introduced to BATAN in early 1980's. The pilot project was funded by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), UNDP (United Nation Development Program), and Government of Indonesia. The objective of the pilot project was to promote the application of the electron beam technology for surface coating and curing of woods. Many training programs and research activities in conjunction with the applications of EBM were conducted. The machine is still in operation and used for sterilization of medical product, for cross-linking of cable wire and hydrogel material.

Eight (8) FNCA country members and a RCA Project Lead Country Coordinator presented reports on their activities for 2009 and research plans for 2010 - 2011. The summaries of the reports are attached as Annex 3 Part A and Part C.

Dr. Seiichi TOKURA, Executive Advisor, Community and Business Partnership, Kansai University gave a special talk on radiation processing of succinylated chitosan.

Session 3. Discussion about Radiation Processing and Application of Chitosan

In the morning session, Dr. Fumio YOSHII, Coordinator for Industrial Cooperation Promotion Department of Japan Atomic Energy Agency delivered a lead speech about optimization of production technology of oligochitosan by radiation processing. Another speech was given by Dr. Kamaruddin BIN HASHIM, Manager, Radiation Modification of Polymer Group, Malaysian Nuclear Agency on Malaysian experience on production of oligochitosan by continuous flow gamma radiation processing. Dr. Ir. Gatot Trimulyadi REKSO, Senior Scientist, Center for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation Technology, National Nuclear Energy Agency presented the review and summary of field test result.

In the afternoon session, Dr. Hien NGUYEN Quoc, Scientific Researcher, Research and Development Center for Radiation Technology, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VAEI) delivered a lead speech on status and challenges to commercial application of oligochitosan as plant growth promoter.

Session 4. "Radiation Processing and Application of Starch/ Polysaccharides for Super Water Absorbent"

Five (5) FNCA country members presented country reports on research activities on super water absorbent (SWA). Thereafter, Dr. Hien NGUYEN Quoc, Scientific Researcher, Research and Development Center for Radiation Technology, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VAEI) delivered a lead speech about optimum condition, raw materials and conceptual design of production of SWA. The summaries of the country reports are attached as Annex 3 Part B.

In the afternoon, an open seminar on "Perspective of Radiation Processing Application" was officiated by Mr. Hudi Hastowo and 80 participants from industries, universities, research institutes and members of FNCA countries attended in the seminar. An exhibition that consisted of posters and product display was also held and participated by Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The summary of open seminar is attached as Annex 4.

Session 5. Technical Visit

Participants visited BATAN Exhibition Center and were familiarized with the results of several research and development of the Institute. Other facilities visited were gamma irradiator facility in Center for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation Technology (CAIRT-BATAN) such as Gamma irradiator of IRKA (medium dose rate) and multi purposes gamma irradiator PANORAMA (low dose rate) and radiation processing laboratories.

Session 6. "Possible Research Work Sharing between Participating Groups"

Dr. Machi presented possible research works that can be shared between participating members. These were described in the recommendations and conclusion session.

3) Conclusions and Recommendations

This workshop made the following conclusions and recommendations :

A. Plant Growth Promoter

a)	Conclusions
	1.	Degraded chitosan produced in BATAN, Indonesia by following protocol of FNCA Guideline 2009, was provided to the membership countries and led the fruitful effect of PGP on tomato, potato. carrot, sugarcane, rice and chili.
	2.	Commercialized PGP, Olicide 9DD in Vietnam was widely applied to cabbage, cauliflower, green pepper, tea, coffee.
	3.	PGP was industrialized in Japan as a plant activator of cyclamen and lawn grass in golf course.
	4.	Field test of rice in large scale of 24 ha was carried out in Malaysia. Crop yield increased 5%. However, for germination test and blast study showed that oligochitosan can replace commercial germination compounds and synthetic fungicides.
	5.	Cost analysis revealed that PGP cost depends on the cost of raw materials and processing of chitosan.
	6.	Indonesia provides chitin to Member Countries for further field tests.
b)	Recommendations
	1.	As agreed before, research team for FNCA and RCA for radiation processing of natural polymers should be integrated into one team in each Member Countries.
	2.	It is important that India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka which are not Member Countries of FNCA should participate in the FNCA workshop to achieve synergy of cooperation between FNCA and RCA.
	3.	Application of chitosan oligomer should be focused on agriculture as elicitor in 2010 and 11.
	4.	Cooperation of national nuclear research institutes with ministry relevant to agriculture in the field tests and its implementation is important to promote oligo-chitosan application as elicitor.
	5.	All member countries should have specific plan of field tests in terms of plant, location or soil property, objectives and evaluation, which should be formulated in good cooperation with agriculture research institutes and end users.
	6.	Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan are kindly requested to provide technical data on field test of oligo-chitosan for selected specific plants, which are very useful guidelines for field tests conducted by other countries.
	7.	Protocol of FNCA Guideline 2009 is recommended to be revised. Member Countries should upload current data to secretariat.
	8.	In order to produce oligo-chitosan with good QA/QC in each Member Countries, manual for chitosan production from crab shell or shrimp shell, and oligochitosan by using gamma irradiation should be prepared by collaboration.
	9.	Conduct basic study on elicitation effect of oligochitosan in plants.
	10.	Optimize procedure for application of oligochitosan on plants such as frequency of spraying of oligochitosan.
	11.	Optimize parameters and conditions for radiation degradation of chitosan to reduce the cost of production of oligochitosan.

B. Super Water Absorbent

Program of
FNCA 2009 Workshop on Application of Electron Accelerator
- Radiation Processing of Natural Polymer -

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