Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Microwave systems and new applications of microwave in medical, chemical and materials manufacturing and processing, food and health industries as well as in analytical chemistry instrumentation for in situ study of microwave effects are provided. In the case of medical applications, the microwave based damage is conducted in a way to diminish ablating or damaging the collateral tissue and to increase the probability of procedure achievement.

Microwave systems and new applications of microwave in medical, chemical and materials manufacturing and processing, food and health industries as well as in analytical chemistry instrumentation for in situ study of microwave effects are provided. In the case of medical applications, the microwave based damage is conducted in a way to diminish ablating or damaging the collateral tissue and to increase the probability of procedure achievement.

Methods of making mixed allergen compositions, e.g., substantially aerobic organism free mixed allergen compositions, and the resulting allergen composition, are provided.

Apparatus and method for pasteurizing food products and ready meals in hermetically sealed packages (22) by means of microwaves, comprising a microwave chamber (14); a lower conveyor belt (20) for the packages (22); an upper conveyor belt (18), extending substantially horizontally and vertically movable, and a microwave source (16) located below the lower conveyor belt (20), the microwave chamber (14) being under atmospheric ambient pressure. The apparatus comprises a cooling plate (10) in close contact with the upper conveyor belt (18) so that during microwave heating the top of the package (22) is cooled to below the condensation point of water vapor and overpressure in the package is avoided.

Apparatus and method for pasteurizing food products and ready meals in hermetically sealed packages (22) by means of microwaves, comprising a microwave chamber (14); a lower conveyor belt (20) for the packages (22); an upper conveyor belt (18), extending substantially horizontally and vertically movable, and a microwave source (16) located below the lower conveyor belt (20), the microwave chamber (14) being under atmospheric ambient pressure. The apparatus comprises a cooling plate (10) in close contact with the upper conveyor belt (18) so that during microwave heating the top of the package (22) is cooled to below the condensation point of water vapor and overpressure in the package is avoided.

Disclosed is a heating device (100), including: a metal cylinder body (110) provided with a pick-and-place opening, a door body (120) configured to open and close the pick-and-place opening, an electromagnetic generating module (161) configured to generate an electromagnetic wave signal, and a radiating antenna (150). The radiating antenna (150) is configured to be electrically connected with the electromagnetic generating module (161) to generate electromagnetic waves of a corresponding frequency according to the electromagnetic wave signal. The heating device (100) further includes an antenna housing (130) made of an insulating material. The antenna housing (130) is configured to separate an inner space of the cylinder body (110) into a heating chamber (111) and an electrical appliance chamber (112), wherein an object to be processed and the radiating antenna (150) are respectively disposed in the heating chamber (111) and the electrical appliance chamber (112), and the radiating antenna (150) is configured to be fixedly connected with the antenna housing (130). The heating device (100) covers and fixes the radiating antenna (150) through the antenna housing (130), which not only can separate the object to be processed from the radiating antenna (150) to prevent the radiating antenna (150) from being dirty or damaged by accidental touch, but also can simplify the assembly process of the heating device (100) to facilitate the positioning and installation of the radiating antenna (150).

Disclosed is a heating device (100), including: a metal cylinder body (110) provided with a pick-and-place opening, a door body (120) configured to open and close the pick-and-place opening, an electromagnetic generating module (161) configured to generate an electromagnetic wave signal, and a radiating antenna (150). The radiating antenna (150) is configured to be electrically connected with the electromagnetic generating module (161) to generate electromagnetic waves of a corresponding frequency according to the electromagnetic wave signal. The heating device (100) further includes an antenna housing (130) made of an insulating material. The antenna housing (130) is configured to separate an inner space of the cylinder body (110) into a heating chamber (111) and an electrical appliance chamber (112), wherein an object to be processed and the radiating antenna (150) are respectively disposed in the heating chamber (111) and the electrical appliance chamber (112), and the radiating antenna (150) is configured to be fixedly connected with the antenna housing (130). The heating device (100) covers and fixes the radiating antenna (150) through the antenna housing (130), which not only can separate the object to be processed from the radiating antenna (150) to prevent the radiating antenna (150) from being dirty or damaged by accidental touch, but also can simplify the assembly process of the heating device (100) to facilitate the positioning and installation of the radiating antenna (150).

A method and apparatus for pasteurizing and drying cannabis plant materials using a microwave-vacuum chamber. The pasteurizing and drying are carried out with no use of ionizing radiation and with rapid drying. Pasteurization is done at a temperature and for a time period that are sufficient to reduce microorganisms to an acceptably low level, while not significantly reducing the psychoactive compounds in the material. In the process, the pressure inside a vacuum chamber is reduced to a first pressure less than atmospheric. The material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the first pressure at a pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pressure is then reduced to a second pressure lower than the first pressure and the material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the second pressure for a time period at a dehydrating temperature lower than the pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pasteurizing and dehydrating steps can be done in the reverse order.

Various embodiments of processing systems and components for sterilization or pasteurization and associated methods of operation are described herein. For example, a method of sterilization or pasteurization includes immersing an item in an immersion fluid, and the immersed item is subject to a hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid. The method also includes applying microwave energy to the item while the item is immersed in the immersion fluid and subject to the hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid. The hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid prevents the water content of the item from causing steam explosion in the item while the microwave energy is applied. The method further includes heating the item immersed in the immersion fluid to a target temperature with the applied microwave energy, the target temperature being sufficient to achieve sterilization or pasteurization of the item.