Microwaves

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General Information

Overview

  • The development of the microwaves technology for the food industry can capitalize with the current development of microwave technologies in telecommunications, radio frequencies and electricity (Cambridge University Press, 2015; Mukherjee, 2015)
  • The boom of microwave ovens (house level) and fast food preference enabled the market of cheap magnetrons (main component of the ovens). (Scaman, Durance, Drummond & Sun 2014)
  • Heat and mass transfer data of the food products has important potential for the expansion of this technology (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)


Advantages

  • Rapid processing. The operation temperature is reached faster than in conventional processes.
  • Combination with conventional heating can enhance the heating homogeneity.
  • Potential in software use for tailored microwaves profile applications.
  • More controllable processes (Scaman, Durance, Drummond & Sun 2014).


Disadvantages

  • The effectiveness heating process vary with the dialectic uniformity of material. This means that some parts of the food may reach a too high temperature when others just reach the needed one.
  • Potential process deviation because the system is more dramatically influenced by the process parameters.
  • Metallic Material restrictions.
  • Complete reprocessing is needed to handle under processed material.
  • Extensive experimentation to correct deviations is also needed.

(Muredzi, 2012)


Base

  • Use of electromagnetic waves to produce heat in a material (2450 MHz and 915 MHz typically for industry) (Muredzi, 2012)
  • Microwaves are electromagnetic radiation from 1mm to 1m wavelength and frequencies from 300 MHz to 300 GHz. (Scaman, Durance, Drummond & Sun 2014)
  • Dielectric and ionic mechanism to generate heat. Water, as a polar molecule, is affected by the microwaves generating an oscillation movement that it the main source of heat in food matter due to the abundance and the polarity compared with organic compounds. (Muredzi, 2012)
  • Dielectric and ionic properties of food are crucial parameters to identify the potential of microwave heating for a specific product (Muredzi, 2012).
  • Dielectric constant is the ability of the material to store microwave energy and the dielectric loss factor is the ability of the material to dissipate the microwave as heat. (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)
  • Dielectric constants of food decreases as the content of moisture decrease and with temperature itself unless the material is below the freezing point of water. (Scaman, Durance, Drummond & Sun 2014)
  • Dipolar rotation and ionic conduction mechanisms allows the transformation of electromagnetic energy to heat. (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014).
  • Also the volumetric heating or the capacity of the food to absorb the heat is highly relevant. (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)
  • Heat and mass transfer phenomena: the change in temperature is governed by the convective heat gain or loss, the radiative heat transfer and the evaporative heat loss. The surface of the material is colder than inside due to surface phenomena as evaporation, contrary to conventional heating in which the higher temperature is in the contact with the external hot surface source of the heat (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014).
  • Thermal conductivity and heat capacity are highly relevant properties of the food for this operation. Relevant too are density and viscosity (Scaman, Durance, Drummond & Sun 2014)
  • The role of water transfer inside and outside the material are critical process regarding the quality of the food (Muredzi, 2012). The relaxation time is the time taken to a molecule to reach a disordered state after the microwave field that it was alienated with is removed. This occurs in the molecules of water bound in a Hydrogen bounded network. Water bound to proteins or carbohydrates or in ice form is hindered form this relaxation (Scaman, Durance, Drummond & Sun 2014).
  • Reflection of microwaves properties of materials is also important (Scaman, Durance, Drummond & Sun 2014)


Description of techniques

Critical process factors: Magnitude of time temperature history and location of the coldest point depending on composition (ionic content, moisture, density, specific heat), shape and size of the food, frequency of the microwaves and the applicator oven design. Time is also a factor, as the temperature rises, the location of the coldest point may shift. (Muredzi, 2012)

  • Variable frequency microwave processing oven are possible and can enable phase control microwave processing

There are some solutions to avoid not uniform heating issues of the technology: combined microwave heating, controlling food size and geometry, the use of pulsed microwave heating, process and food specific microwave oven design, the use of lower microwave power in solely and combined applications. (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)


Changes in process (Operation Unit Applications)

Cooking and boiling

  • The technology enables short heating times. The air around the processing food is not heated, the condensation of vaporized water is easier as the air is easier to saturate enabling liquid water into the food and avoiding crisping reactions.
  • Depending of the type of food, there are important quality problems as firm and tough texture, rapid staling, lack of color and crust formation and a dry product.
  • Combination with infrared radiation and other thermal techniques represent a great synergy. It reduce the processing time while retaining the level of quality compared with conventional processes. Promising research regarding Cake and bread cooking has been made. Products should be baked at the lowest possible microwave power and the highest halogen lamp power (limited by change in surface color and quality level affects) in order to have conventional levels of quality or better in the shortest period of time.
  • Browning is an issue for microwave cooking but with jet Impregnation (high speed convention heating) combined with the technology provide brown color and crisp in microwave baked products.

(Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)


Sterilization

  • The technology enables an improved uniformity of heating for in package sterilization.
  • Microwave power profile optimized for the package.
  • One of the most promising techniques is rotating and oscillating product surrounded by absorption medium.
  • Major issues: enhanced edge heating, complex, expensive, non-uniformity of heating, not insurance of the sterilization of the whole package, unfavorable economics when compared with frozen food processing in the USA.
  • There is a promising 915 MHz single mode sterilization for processing packaged food. The food is immersed in pressurised hot water simultaneously heated by microwaves. 5-8 min processing for safe and high quality food. Especially good for not homogeneous food. (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)

(Muredzi, 2012)


Pasteurization

  • Pasteurization processes with microwave technology has a special relevance for solid and semi-solid materials in terms of pasteurization and sterilization with no high food degradation. (Muredzi, 2012)
  • The technology has been on and off for over 30 years, mainly yoghurt and milk. (Muredzi, 2012)
  • It is effective in destruction of microorganisms or inactivation of enzymes through its thermal effect (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)
  • Effects on microorganisms: heating reaching inactivation temperature (leading one and similar to conventional thermal processing), electroporation, cell membrane rupture and cell lysis due to electromagnetic field coupling. (Muredzi, 2012)
  • The not thermal effects of microwaves have been reported to add to the inactivation opening possibilities for cold processing. Longer recovery of injured microorganism due to the damage of RNA caused by the microwaves. Reported microorganism kills at sub lethal temperatures due to potential magnification of thermal effects. (Muredzi, 2012)
  • Synergic effects with conventional heating is expected to be more than sum of the separated effects. (Muredzi, 2012)
  • There are resistant organism to the technology as Bacillus Cereous, Listeria Monocytogenes, among others. (Muredzi, 2012)
  • Continuous flow microwave pasteurization of apple cider and packaged acidified vegetables. (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)

Cases: Listeria monocytogenes inactivation kinetics under microwave and conventional thermal processing in a kiwifruit puree Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Volume 22, April 2014, Pages 131-136 María Benlloch-Tinoco, María Consuelo Pina-Pérez, Nuria Martínez-Navarrete, Dolores Rodrigo


Blanching

  • The technology enables faster processing, better quality avoiding addition of water and better nutritional value.
  • Potential off flavor in Peanuts processing, the problem of high internal temperature degradation and the enabling of chemical reactions.

(Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)


Recent Case:

Comparison study of conventional hot-water and microwave blanching on quality of green beans

Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Volume 20, October 2013, Pages 191-197 Luis M. Ruiz-Ojeda, Francisco J. Peñas


Extraction

The technology enables rapid heating of the solvent and sample, reduction of solvent use and time processing, and higher extraction rate become possible. There is a volume expansion at micro scale leading to explosions at cellular level, making easier the diffusion processes/ mass transfer.

Wider range of solvent can be used (less reliance on chemical affinity)

Extraction of targeted compounds becomes a possibility.Solvent free micro wave extraction has been developed by the combination with dry distillation at atmospheric pressure. It was used in essential oils extraction from aromatic herbs. A more simply, economically, quickly way than conventional method was the product. Promising synergies with ultrasonic technology.

(Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)


Recent Case:

Contribution of microwaves or ultrasonics on carvone and limonene recovery from dill fruits (Anethum graveolens L.)

Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Volume 17, January 2013, Pages 114-119 Smain Chemat, Erik D.C. Esveld


Drying

  • The technology enables reduce drying time and product degradation.
  • It is suitable for high moisture content products as carrots or mushroom.
  • Microwave hot air in agricultural crops is a promising application. Vacuum impregnation and osmotic dehydration prior to hot air microwave in fruit preservation become widespread for reducing energy consumption, improving the quality and extending the shelf life.
  • The technology combined with fluidized bed solve the problem of heating homogeneity with even better color quality plus up to 90% drying time reduction. Spouted Bed combination shows good performance at 3.5 W/g and air temperature of 50°C.
  • High initial capital investment is needed, textural damage due to rapid mass transport is possible. Changes in dialect properties with temperature hinder the extensive commercial application.


(Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)


  • Drying rate controllable by ration of microwave power and the water content in food. The drying process has 3 main regions: Increasing rate region (reaching boiling point), constant rate region (water driven free off) and falling rate region (remove water)
  • Better retention of flavor, colors, nutrients or other biologically active chemicals than conventionally is possible.
  • Dehydration cost a function of costs, labor, energy cost and efficiency. Good combined with thermal method. Less use of energy do not mean less cost due to the quality of energy


  • Rate of power form 800 w to 425 W. Limitation by the microwave power density (W/kg) (too much leads to arching or plasma discharge, >10,000 W/Kg) and the microwave penetration level.
  • Vacuum operation: Converting electromagnetic energy into heat inside the material using vacuum to keep a low temperature leading to an improved product quality. Higher re hydration rates are also possible
  • Freeze drying: time reduction by 75%. Main factors: electric field strength, chamber pressure (++) and sample size*Capacity to create new products or products with unique characteristics more than savings.

(Scaman, Durance, Drummond & Sun 2014)


Recent cases:

Microwave-drying of sliced mushroom. Analysis of temperature control and pressure Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Volume 11, Issue 4, October 2010, Pages 652-660 J.I. Lombraña, R. Rodríguez, U. Ruiz

Modelling of dehydration-rehydration of orange slices in combined microwave/air drying Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2003, Pages 203-209 G.Ruı́z Dı́az, J. Martı́nez-Monzó, P. Fito, A. Chiralt


Thawing

The technology enables a minimization of microbial growth, chemical deterioration, excessive drip loss and dehydration by reducing the process time. There are issues of uneven or runaway heating (some parts cooked, some still frozen). There are successful cases for Sauces. Mathematical models improvements 3 D is promising.

(Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)


Recent Case:

Factors affecting the thawing characteristics and energy consumption of frozen pork tenderloin meat using high-voltage electrostatic

Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Volume 22, April 2014, Pages 110-115

Xiangli He, Rui Liu, Eizo Tatsumi, Satoru Nirasawa, Haijie Liu


Cooling, chilling and cold stabilization

The technology enables a reduction on the size of the crystals (60%) leading to a better conservation quality of the food.

“The reduction of freeze damage exerted to any tissue undergoing freezing remains a challenge. The mechanical and biochemical stress caused by the ice crystals to the cellular membranes results in irreversible tissue damage. The application of electric and/or magnetic disturbances has been identified as a possible means to reduce the size of ice crystals during freezing of biological tissues. In the present study microwaves were applied during freezing of pork meat. Our results indicate that the size of the formed ice crystals was significantly reduced during microwave assisted freezing leading to a lower damage on the microstructure of meat. This paper describes an innovative and novel freezing process that could be used in order for higher quality frozen products to be produced”


(Xanthakis, Le-Bail, Ramaswamy, 2014)


Energy Savings

  • Lower energy use due to the minimizing of processing time (Muredzi, 2012)
  • Vacuum impregnation and osmotic dehydration prior to hot air microwave in fruit preservation become widespread for reducing energy consumption, improving the quality and extending the shelf life. (Ozkoc, Sumnu & Sahin 2014)


Change in Energy Distribution

  • Change thermal energy for electricity
  • More electric power generations, enhanced variety of options for electric power sources of energy


References

  • Muredzi, P. (2012) 'Chapter 8: Microwaves and radiofrequency processing', in Aleman, M. (ed.) Emerging Non-thermal Food Processing Technologies. USA: CBH books, pp. 167-194.


  • Ozkoc S., Sumnu G., Sahin S. (2014) 'Part IV: Alternative thermal processing: Chapter 20 Recent Development in Microwave Heating', in Sun, D. (ed.)Emerging Tehcnologies for Food Processing. UK: Academic Press, pp. 361-377.


  • Scaman C., Durance, T., Drummond, L., Sun D. (2014) 'Part IV: Alternative thermal processing: Chapter 23 Combined Microwave Vacumm Drying, in Sun, D. (ed.)Emerging Tehcnologies for Food Processing. UK: Academic Press, pp. 427-441.


Mukherjee, S. (2015) Microwaves—a journey in reshaping world technology, Available at: http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/images/6/6b/Mukherjee.pdf (Accessed: 13th March 2015).


  • Xanthakis, A., Le-Bail, A., Ramaswamy, H. (2014) 'Development of an innovative microwave assisted food freezing process ', Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 26(December), pp. 176-181.


Scan 430, 189

  • Table 8-2 p. 189 (Muredzi, 2012)

Microwaves=> Thermal processing assistances reducing time=>Drying with open air. PEF=>Biomass energy transfer=>Extraction process


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