Potential of Microwave Heating and Plasma for Biosecurity Applications

This review explores the use of microwave heating and microwave-generated plasma for biosecurity applications. Microwave has been shown to rapidly heat kill a wide range pests pathogens. Examples thermal disinfestation soils, grains, hay, timber are presented discussed. energy can also ionize various gasses, including air, create plasma. Plasmas described by many characteristics, such as temperature, degree ionization, density. In “after glow” (cold plasma) discharge, there sufficient charged particles excited atoms generate elevated UV levels surfaces objects. cold plasma-activated water grains other commodities Brief comments on scale-up this technology have presented.