An overview of microwave processing and dielectric properties of agri-food materials

Microwave measurements and the dielectric properties of materials are finding increasing application, as new electro-technology is adapted for use in agriculture and food processing industries. The interest in dielectric properties of materials has historically been associated with the design of electrical equipment, where various dielectrics are used for insulating conductors and other components of electric equipment. Although direct heating by microwaves can offer advantages over conventional heat transfer, the different mechanism of energy transfer in microwave heating has led to new processing challenges. This paper is the outcome of an extensive and comprehensive literature review in the area and mainly summarises several microwave processing aspects and its usefulness in understanding the microwave-material interaction and the role of dielectric properties. (C) 2004 Silsoe Research Institute. All rights reserved Published by Elsevier Ltd.