The present invention includes methods of making a nanocellulosic composition comprising one or more nanocellulosic components, wherein the one or more nanocellulosic components comprise a micron-scale cellulose or cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), the method comprising the steps of: creating a nanocellulosic slurry by combining the one or more of nanocellulosic components with a liquid component; and exposing the nanocellulosic slurry to a drying condition, wherein the drying condition comprises microwave radiation, thereby creating a nanocellulosic composition. The present invention also includes compositions comprising cellulose (nanocellulosic compositions), wherein the nanocellulosic compositions have an internal void space of about 5% to about 95% by volume.

The present invention includes methods of making a nanocellulosic composition comprising one or more nanocellulosic components, wherein the one or more nanocellulosic components comprise a micron-scale cellulose or cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), the method comprising the steps of: creating a nanocellulosic slurry by combining the one or more of nanocellulosic components with a liquid component; and exposing the nanocellulosic slurry to a drying condition, wherein the drying condition comprises microwave radiation, thereby creating a nanocellulosic composition. The present invention also includes compositions comprising cellulose (nanocellulosic compositions), wherein the nanocellulosic compositions have an internal void space of about 5% to about 95% by volume.

A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, includes: a step of manufacturing a honeycomb formed body to manufacture a non-fired honeycomb formed body having volume of 7 L or more; a drying step of drying the manufactured non-fired honeycomb formed body to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and a firing step of firing the obtained honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb structure. The drying step includes: an induction drying step to obtain a first dried honeycomb formed body by removing 20 to 80% of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying, and a microwave drying step to obtain a honeycomb dried body by removing the residual water. The honeycomb dried body subjected to this microwave drying step is obtained by removing 90% or more of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying.

A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, includes: a step of manufacturing a honeycomb formed body to manufacture a non-fired honeycomb formed body having volume of 7 L or more; a drying step of drying the manufactured non-fired honeycomb formed body to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and a firing step of firing the obtained honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb structure. The drying step includes: an induction drying step to obtain a first dried honeycomb formed body by removing 20 to 80% of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying, and a microwave drying step to obtain a honeycomb dried body by removing the residual water. The honeycomb dried body subjected to this microwave drying step is obtained by removing 90% or more of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying.

A liquification system for an organic waste management system includes a hopper that is oriented vertically such that organic waste added to the hopper is biased by gravity toward a bottom end of the hopper; a fixed grinding plate disposed at the bottom end of the hopper and including grinding elements for grinding and liquefying organic waste; an agitator that is disposed within the hopper and is movable relative to the grinding plate in a first rotational direction that moves organic waste downward toward and against the grinding plate and in a second rotational direction that moves organic waste upward toward a top end of the hopper; a motor configured to selectively move the agitator in the first and second rotational directions under control of the controller; and an outlet through the bottom end of the hopper through which liquified organic waste drains from the hopper.

A device (1) and a method for drying dialysis filters are provided. The device (1) has a drying chamber (2) and a microwave generating unit (3), which emits microwaves into the drying chamber (2). This allows effectuate rapid drying cost-effectively. The microwave generating unit (3) has a variable frequency and/or a variable power.

A device (1) and a method for drying dialysis filters are provided. The device (1) has a drying chamber (2) and a microwave generating unit (3), which emits microwaves into the drying chamber (2). This allows effectuate rapid drying cost-effectively. The microwave generating unit (3) has a variable frequency and/or a variable power.

A method for identifying a cooking level of a food load in an electromagnetic cooking device is disclosed. The method includes controlling a frequency and a phase of a first RF signal and a second RF signal and amplifying the first RF signal and the second RF signal thereby generating a first RF feed and a second RF feed. The method further includes emitting the first RF feed and the second RF feed into an enclosed cavity to heat a food load and measuring at least one reflection signal. The method further includes calculating a Q-factor for the enclosed cavity based on the reflection signal, monitoring the Q-factor, and identifying a change in the Q-factor exceeding a predetermined change threshold. In response to identifying the change exceeding the predetermined change threshold, a cooking level for the food load is identified.

Systems and methods of processing biomass include a conveyor unit associated with an inlet and/or outlet, a microwave generator, a microwave guide connecting the microwave generator to the conveyor unit that includes a microwave opening configured to receive microwave energy via the microwave guide, and a microwave suppression system including a tunnel associated with the material inlet and/or outlet, and including at least one flexible and/or movable microwave reflecting component within the tunnel, the microwave reflecting component configured to be deflected as biomass material passes through the tunnel and then returning to a resting, closed position when the biomass material is no longer passing through the tunnel. The conveyor unit is configured to receive and process the biomass material, including heating the biomass material to at least a first temperature by applying microwave energy to the biomass material.

A material processing apparatus is disclosed. This material processing apparatus is particularly developed to utilize a quasi-traveling microwave to conduct heat treatment for a thread-type article like fiber, silk, artificial fiber, and artificial silk. The material processing apparatus comprises a primary waveguide tube, a microwave blocking plate, a secondary waveguide tube, and at least one microwave absorbing member disposed of in the primary waveguide tube. By such design, a microwave source supplies a microwave to the secondary waveguide tube and the primary waveguide tube, such that the microwave travels in the two waveguide tubes so as to become a quasi-traveling microwave. Therefore, in the case of a thread-type article being be fed into the primary waveguide tube via the secondary waveguide tube by a thread-type article transferring mechanism, the thread-type article is steadily and evenly heated by the quasi-traveling microwave in the two waveguide tubes.