Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrolysis method for recovering at least one component from a feedstock material using a thermal treatment. The feedstock material is delivered to a pyrolytic chamber (1), exposed to a controlled atmosphere, and heated to a treatment temperature of the at least one component in the pyrolytic chamber (1) by applying microwave energy. The pyrolysis breakdown products are separated by fractional condensation and a targeted component is decomposed in microwave plasma. The microwave plasma is generated such that plasma temperature is varied over a temperature range including a decomposition and/or cracking temperature of the at least one component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrolysis method and reactor for recovering at least one component from a tire material using thermal decomposition. The tire material is delivered to a pyrolytic chamber (1), exposed to a controlled atmosphere and heated to a decomposition temperature of the at least one component in the pyrolytic chamber (1) by microwave radiation. A variable power microwave radiation at frequencies between 300 MHz and 2500 MHZ is applied to sequentially vary a temperature in the pyrolytic chamber (1) over a temperature range including the decomposition temperature of the at least one component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrolysis method and reactor for recovering at least one component from a carbon based material using thermal decomposition. The carbon based material is delivered to a pyrolytic chamber (1), exposed to a controlled atmosphere and heated to a decomposition temperature of the at least one component in the pyrolytic chamber (1) by microwave radiation. A variable power microwave radiation at frequencies between 300 MHz and 2200 MHZ is applied to sequentially increase a temperature in the pyrolytic chamber (1) over a temperature range including the decomposition temperature of the at least one component.

Abstract: A pyrolysis method and a pyrolysis reactor for thermal decomposition of polymer waste materials, particularly rubber and plastics waste materials, using a fast pyrolysis process, are disclosed. The waste material is delivered to a pyrolytic chamber, and is heated to a decomposition temperature of the waste material by microwave radiation.

Abstract: A pyrolysis method and a pyrolysis reactor for recovering silica from a polymer waste material containing silica, particularly a rubber or plastics waste material containing silica, using thermal decomposition for separating silica from at least one non-silica component of the polymer waste material, are disclosed. The waste material is delivered to a pyrolytic chamber, and heated to a decomposition temperature of at least one non-silica component of the waste materiel by microwave radiation. The decomposition temperature is selected such that the at least one non-silica component includes a higher microwave absorptivity than silica.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning cloth which includes a body with an aperture, a closure, which is engageable with the aperture, a tub with an outer shell and a cylindrical inner cavity which corresponds with the aperture, a drum, which is positioned inside the cylindrical inner cavity and which includes a wall, with an inner surface, an outer surface and a plurality of perforations in the wait, a base and an opposing mouth which registers with the aperture, a driver which is connected to or engaged with the drum and which allows rotational movement of the drum about an axis, a generator and an electrical power supply, inside the body, wherein the power supply is adapted to provide pulsating electrical power to the generator and wherein the generator is actuable to produce pulses of microwave energy at least into part of the drum.

Abstract: An in-shell egg pasteurization process includes, in a temperature-raising stage (12), raising the temperature of yolk of a plurality of in-shell eggs (40), simultaneously and at least predominantly by means of microwave radiation, to a pasteurization temperature, the temperature-raising stage (12) including a plurality of elongate or longitudinally extending microwave cavities that are isolated from one another so that microwaves fed into an elongate or longitudinally extending microwave cavity do not leak into any other elongate or longitudinally extending microwave cavity. The in-shell eggs (40) are displaced along the lengths of the elongate or longitudinally extending microwave cavities whilst being irradiated with microwaves. In a pasteurization stage (14), the raised temperatures of the in-shell eggs (40) are maintained for a pasteurization time sufficient to pasteurize the in-shell eggs (40).

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus (8) for cleaning cloth which includes a body (10) with an aperture, a closure, which is engageable with the aperture, a tub (26) with an outer shell and a cylindrical Inner cavity which corresponds with the aperture, a drum (28), which is positioned inside the cylindrical inner cavity (54) and which includes a wall, with an inner surface, an outer surface and a plurality of perforations (62) in the wait, a base (64) and an opposing mouth (66) which registers with the aperture, a drive means (30) which is connected to or engaged with the drum and which allows rotational movement of the drum about an axis, a generator (32) and an electrical power supply (78), inside the body, wherein the power supply is adapted to provide pulsating electrical power to the generator and wherein the generator is actuable to produce pulses of microwave energy at least into part of the drum.

Abstract: An in-shell egg pasteurization installation includes a temperature raising stage having a microwave cavity or microwave cavity portion into which microwaves can be radiated and a pasteurization stage having a microwave cavity or microwave cavity portion into which microwaves can be radiated. The installation is configured so as to provide radiant or conductive heat to an in-shell egg located in the temperature raising stage and to an in-shell egg located in the pasteurization stage, and to provide relative displacement between an in-shell egg and the microwave cavities or microwave cavity portions.

Abstract: An in-shell egg pasteurization installation includes a temperature raising stage comprising a microwave cavity or microwave cavity portion into which microwaves can be radiated and a pasteurization stage comprising a microwave cavity or microwave cavity portion into which microwaves can be radiated. Heating means provide radiant or conductive heat to an in-shell egg located in the temperature raising stage and to an in-shell egg located in the pasteurization stage, and displacement means provide relative displacement between an in-shell egg and the microwave cavities or microwave cavity portions.

Abstract: An in-shell egg pasteurization process (10) includes, in a temperature raising stage (16), raising the temperature of albumen of an in-shell egg predominantly by means of microwave radiation to a temperature between 57° C. and 60° C., the albumen temperature being raised at a rate which reduces at least once over time. Simultaneously, in the temperature raising stage (16), the temperature of an external surface of the egg is raised predominantly by means of external heat radiation or conduction to a temperature of between 57° C. and 70° C., or alternatively or in addition the egg surface temperature is allowed to rise to a temperature of between 57° C. and 70° C. as a result of the microwave radiation by inhibiting heat loss from the egg. Said temperatures are then maintained by means of microwave radiation and external heat radiation or conduction for at least some time.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dielectric heating device. More particularly, it relates to a dielectric heating device which employs microwave heating, suitable for heating or cooking foodstuffs and suitable for, but not restricted to, use as a domestic or institutional microwave oven.

Abstract: The invention provides a dielectric heating device. The device includes a plurality of electrically conductive side walls which are electrically interconnected in use and arranged in series to define a heating cavity. At least one pair of adjacent side walls has its walls inclined to each other at a corner having an included angle selected from the group consisting of acute angles and obtuse angles. At least one electromagnetic power source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation suitable for dielectric heating is arranged to feed waves of such radiation into the cavity with circular polarization of the waves, to cause the cavity to act as a multimode resonant heating cavity.