Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for extraction of various substances from plant and animal and other material containing organic matter by exposure to microwave energy. The method involves exposure to microwaves of the material containing organic matter and a component which absorbs microwaves to disrupt the microstructure and to extract the substances into a suitable non-aqueous organic medium after disruption of the microstructure. The apparatus includes microwave applicators, solvent and starting material storage means and multiple stages of treatment resulting in a high quality extracted product.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for collection of both dry and wet precipitation. The invention involves the use of a dynamic flowing fluid surface for the collection of precipitation for temporary storage and subsequent analysis. The use of a dynamic system prevents exposure of the collected precipitation to other meteorological conditions which may alter, volatilize or destroy the precipitation material.

Abstract: The generation of volatiles from liquid or solid materials is enhanced and accelerated by exposure to microwave radiation. Normally the energy transfer is effected preferentially toward the liquid or solid materials over the generated gaseous volatiles. Sufficient energy is provided at a selected rate that enhances the generation of volatiles to produce headspace samples. Alternatively, the rate can be selected so as to disrupt the equilibrium normally present between the liquid or solid phase and the gaseous phase and produce purge and trap samples; the latter process resulting from the selective energy transfer toward the liquid or solid phase over the gaseous phase. The rate of energy transfer can be chosen so as to bring the medium being subjected to microwave radiation to its supercritical state. The material having reached that state can further be used in numerous applications such as supercritical fluid extraction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for extraction of essential and other such oils from plant and animal biological matter by exposure to microwave energy. The method involves exposure of microwaves to the oil containing cellular matter of the glandular system to extract the oil into a suitable non-aqueous organic medium after disruption of the oil containing cellular matter. The apparatus includes microwave applicators, solvent and starting material, storage means and multiple stages of treatment resulting in a high quality extracted product.

Abstract: The extraction of natural products from material of biological origin is enhanced and accelerated by concurrent contact with extractant medium and exposure to microwave radiation. Normally the extractant medium is selected to be transparent to the microwave and to remain at ambient temperature: however, if some heating of the medium is permissible it may be partially transparent. Sufficient extractant medium should be present to effect the desired extraction. The extraction products are recovered by standard procedures. Materials used for extraction include mint, sea parsley, cedar foilage and garlic. Extractants may be for instance hexane, dichloromethane or ethanol. Extractions may be in two or more stages with different extractants used in each stage. Some of these extraction products are found to be novel, and quite distinct from steam distillation products.

Abstract: An apparatus for dosing a treatment solution into a waste liquid comprises a device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined volume of solution, means for delivering treatment solution to and from the device and control means adapted to determine when waste liquid is present to be dosed and activate the device to dispense a measured volume of treatment solution into a waste liquid. The device has a container with an inlet and outlet diaphragm valve, and an air vent means for venting the chamber during filling and dispensing of treatment solution. Reversible actuation means is provided for simultaneously opening the inlet valve and closing the outlet valve to permit filling of the chamber with a treatment solution and for simultaneously closing the inlet valve and opening the outlet valve to permit dispensing of the measured volume of treatment solution.