02 May 2010
New Microwave Technology – A revolution in Food Processing? (Food Faraday Newsletter)

Advanced Microwave Technologies (AMT) Ltd is a global leader in the use of microwaves to heat and condition liquids, suspensions and semi solids. AMT has recently introduced industrial equipment that makes it possible to deliver microwave energy deep into these materials on a continuous basis.

In this new system energy is delivered rapidly and evenly into the product through a microwave transparent "Teflon" pipe as it flows through the machine. This method of "volumetric" heating has many technical and practical advantages over existing liquid heating systems and opens up many new opportunities in numerous industries.

The use of the ATM microwave liquid heating system in the Food and Drinks sector is rapidly growing momentum:

• Virtually any food product that can be pumped through a 50mm pipe can be pasteurised, sterilised, cooked or blanched using the system reducing costs and increasing functionality.
• The elimination of hot metal surfaces removes boundary effects like "burn on" avoiding flavour taints and cleaning issues. 
• The infinitely modular nature of the system enables customised solutions to a vast range of applications and enables laboratory scale trials to be easily developed into industrial processes.
• It is a highly controllable system giving very precise control of the treatment process
• Many batch processes can be made continuous reducing running costs, cleaning costs and dramatically increasing capacities
• It is a highly efficient method of sterilising and volume reducing bio hazardous wastes like blood waste from abattoirs and eggs. This dramatically reduces disposal costs

AMT is involved in a continuous program of research looking at some of the other interesting effects of this truly unique method of microwave heating.

Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh are currently undertaking trials to try and establish whether the system has non thermal effects on microorganisms. Initial trials have shown that a range of microorganisms have been killed at lower temperatures and retention times than would normally be expected by thermal heating alone.

Not only does ATM provide the equipment necessary to capitalise on these major advantages but with their extensive knowledge and technical expertise they can also help companies to develop processes and products to maximise the benefits of this exciting new method of heating.

Courtesy of Food Processing Faraday www.fpfaraday.com