20 years of microwave technology developments using a coaxial antenna: From human health to green chemistry applications

The global interest on microwave assisted chemistry (MAC) is due to the important benefits for sustainable growth of green chemical industries and environmentally friendly progress society. MAC has been firstly developed using oven-type microwaves (MWs) reactors, which requires difficult expensive industrial scale-up. In 2002, development coaxial dipole antenna allowed a direct application MWs in situ reaction media, opening crucial, novel versatile technological solution, making MW-assisted processes feasible any configuration at level. Here, we present an overview 20 years research MW human health applications. major technology breakthroughs described these short-review are: i) MW-induced thermoablation machine, ii) heating open glassware iii) electrodeless MW/ultraviolet (UV) lamps photoreactors, iv) MW-high pressure reactor v) solventless/simultaneous MW/UV/ultrasound (US) configurations. Applications synthesis nanocatalysts, nanoparticles polymers, advanced oxidative decomposition photochemical processes, solvothermal extraction valuable products biomass processing are discussed. Remarks scaling up frontier applications addressed treatment current future outbreak pandemic emergences also shown.