Quantitative Assessment of Particulate Generation in Beryllium Processing Operations at CERN

About

The CERN Beryllium Facility has developed a comprehensive methodology to quantify particulate generation arising from beryllium processing operations. This study focuses on the measurement of particle production during cutting, turning, precision machining, welding, heat treatment, and chemical processing, with particular attention to airborne, waterborne, and surface-deposited particulates. Given the toxicity of beryllium dust and the stringent cleanliness requirements of ultra-high vacuum components, accurate characterization of particle generation is critical for both occupational safety and product qualification.

For mechanical processes such as cutting and turning, real-time airborne particle monitoring was implemented using optical particle counters and gravimetric sampling to determine particle size distribution and mass concentration. Welding operations were assessed through localized fume extraction monitoring and post-process surface contamination mapping. Heat treatment campaigns included in-situ air sampling combined with surface concentrations. Chemical processing lines were evaluated through water sampling, filtration analysis, and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy to quantify dissolved and suspended fractions. Surface contamination was characterized by using wipe sampling, microscopy, and Inductively Coupled Plasma analytical techniques.

The article presents the measurement techniques developed for each process, correlates particle generation mechanisms with operational parameters, and discusses mitigation strategies implemented to reduce emissions at the source while ensuring compliance with occupational and environmental standards.

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