Journal of Microwave Power and Electromagnetic Energy (JMPEE)
TITLE	The Use of Microwave Heating to Control Insects In Cigarette Manufacture [PDF]
AUTHORS	T. Hirose, I. Abe, M. Kohno, T. Suzuki, K. Oshima and T. Okukura 1975 10 2 181-190
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Abstract The application of microwave heating to kill insects present in tobacco shreds used in cigarette manufacture has been examined. A conveyorised microwave oven was used for the experiments. The test equipment design was based on measured power penetration depths in actual shreds and followed preliminary tests which are described using a redesigned domestic microwave oven. About 13,000 insects at all stages of metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa and adult), in the general classification of cigarette beetles and tobacco moths, were examined in six groups using three levels of initial shred temperature. It is concluded that the lethal effects are mainly due to the rise in the temperature of the shreds. A 100% mortality is achieved by raising the initial shred temperature from 20° - 53°C. When the initial temperature is higher a higher final temperature is required; for example, an initial shred temperature of 50°C required a final temperature after microwave heating of 57°C. The installation of a microwave conveyorised heating system following a conventional shred drier is proposed.