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Understanding Microwave Heating in Biomass-Solvent Systems

Taqi, Ali; Farcot, Etienne; Robinson, John P.; Binner, Eleanor R.

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Authors

Ali Taqi

John P. Robinson



Abstract

A new mechanism is proposed to provide a viable physical explanation for the action of microwaves in solvent extraction processes. The key innovation is Temperature-Induced Diffusion, a recently-demonstrated phenomenon that results from selective heating using microwaves. A mechanism is presented which incorporates microwave heating, cellular expansion, heat transfer and mass transfer, all of which affect the pressure of cell structures within biomass. The cell-pressure is modelled with time across a range of physical and process variables, and compared with the expected outputs from the existing steam-rupture theory. It is shown that steam-rupture is only possible at the extreme fringes of realistic physical parameters, but Temperature-Induced Diffusion is able to explain cell-rupture across a broad and realistic range of physical parameters and heating conditions. Temperature-Induced Diffusion is the main principle that governs microwave-assisted extraction, and this paves the way to being able to select processing conditions and feedstocks based solely on their physical properties. Graphical abstract Keywords Microwave processing, heat transfer, mass transfer, plant cell rupture, cellular expansion mechanics, solvent extraction

Citation

Taqi, A., Farcot, E., Robinson, J. P., & Binner, E. R. (2020). Understanding Microwave Heating in Biomass-Solvent Systems. Chemical Engineering Journal, 124741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.124741

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 9, 2020
Online Publication Date Mar 10, 2020
Publication Date 2020-03
Deposit Date Mar 12, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 12, 2020
Journal Chemical Engineering Journal
Print ISSN 1385-8947
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Pages 124741
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.124741
Keywords Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering; General Chemistry; General Chemical Engineering; Environmental Chemistry
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4133265

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