Keiichiro Kashimura

Functional group dependent dielectric properties of sulfated hydrocolloids extracted from green macroalgal biomass

Dielectric properties of aqueous solutions of sulfated hydrocolloids (ulvan and rhamnan sulfate) extracted from green macroalgal biomass were studied in a frequency range of 100 MHz-10 GHz. Counterion exchange of native hydrocolloids (mixture of Na(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)) to H(+)-form showed significant increase in loss factor due to ionic conduction. On the other hand, desulfations decreased their loss factors. The results suggested that ionic conduction of H(+) has significant contribution to loss factors. Additionally, H(+)-form hydrocolloids showed significant improvement in hydration, which might also affect the dielectric property of the solution by reducing the amount of free water. The viscosity, however, did not show apparent relevance with the dielectric property.

Effects of acidic functional groups on dielectric properties of sodium alginates and carrageenans in water

This study investigated the dielectric properties of sodium alginates and carrageenans in water at frequencies between 100 MHz and 20 GHz in regard to water-hydrocolloid interactions via acidic functional groups. Both sodium alginates and carrageenans showed conduction loss at lower frequencies and dielectric loss at higher frequencies. Reduction and desulfation of sodium alginates and carrageenans, which decreased the numbers of acidic functional groups, decreased their conduction loss. In addition, H(+)-form carrageenans showed the highest ionic conduction. Correlational analysis of dielectric properties and related physical parameters showed that the loss tangent (tanδ) of the hydrocolloid solution was determined by the conductivity of the aqueous solution. Especially at pH below 2, strong H(+) conduction was associated with high tanδ probably due to the Grotthuss mechanism. The molecular dynamics of free water and H(+), viscosity conditions were also suggested to be associated with dielectric property of water-hydrocolloid system.

Surface-plasmon-like modes of graphite powder compact in microwave heating

We determine the mechanism of rapid and selective heating of nonmagnetic conductive particles by the electric and magnetic fields of microwaves. We investigated the dependencies of the heating behaviors of carbonpowders on the radius and electrical conductivity for various relative densities. In these experiments, strong microwave absorption was observed in magnetic field at certain radii and ratios of the crystallite size to the radius. Mie theory for a single particle could account for the high heating rates generated by the microwavemagnetic field in sintering experiments. In the dependence of the heating behavior on the relative density, that H field exhibited the maximum absorption at certain relative densities of the graphitepowders. These surface plasmon-like modes were observed in graphite, but were not observed when an E field was applied. Multiparticle systems such as graphitepowder were found to have significantly different heating behaviors from a single particle. Microwave heating of metal particles is expected to be affected by the structure and shape of the particles.

Microwave-driven asbestos treatment and its scale-up for use after natural disasters.

Asbestos-containing debris generated by the tsunami after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, was processed by microwave heating. The analysis of the treated samples employing thermo gravimetry, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and phase-contrast microscopy revealed the rapid detoxification of the waste by conversion of the asbestos fibers to a nonfibrous glassy material. The detoxification by the microwave method occurred at a significantly lower processing temperature than the thermal methods actually established for the treatment of asbestos-containing waste. The lower treatment temperature is considered to be a consequence of the microwave penetration depth into the waste material and the increased intensity of the microwave electric field in the gaps between the asbestos fibers resulting in a rapid heating of the fibers inside the debris. A continuous treatment plant having a capacity of 2000 kg day(-1) of asbestos-containing waste was built in the area affected by the earthquake disaster. This treatment plant consists of a rotary kiln to burn the combustible waste (wood) and a microwave rotary kiln to treat asbestos-containing inorganic materials. The hot flue gas produced by the combustion of wood is introduced into the connected microwave rotary kiln to increase the energy efficiency of the combined process. Successful operation of this combined device with regard to asbestos decomposition is demonstrated.

Effects of relative density on microwave heating of various carbon powder compacts microwave-metallic multi-particle coupling using spatially separated magnetic fields

We have investigated the microwave heating characteristics of non-magnetic conductive multi-particle systems using spatially separated electric and magnetic fields (Emax and Hmax, respectively) to determine the effects of the multi-particle structure on microwave heating. Pure carbon, carbon black, and artificial graphite multi-particle systems exhibited peak microwave absorption at specific relative densities only under Hmax. These absorptions can be categorized into two types: one originates from coupling between metal spheres, while the other originates from a heterogeneous distribution of particles.

Rapid Transformation of Asbestos into Harmless Waste by a Microwave Rotary Furnace: Application of Microwave Heating to Rubble Processing of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

AbstractThere is a need for a detoxification system that is capable of processing debris in the aftermath of urban disasters into less-harmful waste, quickly and efficiently. The research reported in this paper investigated the potential for transforming asbestos-cement into harmless waste using microwave heating, in small-scale and full-scale experiments. The small-scale setup investigated the relationship between temperature and the number of asbestos fibers in cement slates at various microwave treatment times, during which both the internal and surface temperatures were measured for the samples. Subsequently, the full-size apparatus, which was capable of processing 2  t/day of asbestos-contaminated debris, was constructed at a location affected by the Tohoku earthquake in 2011. This system could successfully process 80  kg/h of asbestos-contaminated material and 80–160  kg/h of wood waste. The test results demonstrate that compact asbestos-treatment systems possess efficiency advantages and can operat...

Behavior of microwave-heated silicon carbide particles at frequencies of 2.0–13.5 GHz

Silicon carbide is a key material in microwave (MW) processing and is used widely as a thermal insulator and catalytic agent. In this study, we experimentally investigated the temperature dependence of the MW-absorption properties of SiC particles at frequencies of 2.0–13.5 GHz. We heated SiC particles of different sizes using MW radiation. The heating behaviors of the particles were then compared with their MW-absorption properties. The heating behavior of the particles was dependent on their radii; this result was in keeping with theoretical predictions. Furthermore, the β-SiC particles exhibited anomalous behaviors when subjected to microwave heating at temperatures of 1100 °C and higher. These behaviors were attributable to the transformation of β-SiC into the α-phase. The underlying mechanism for this transformation is discussed on the basis of the results of X-ray diffraction analysis.

Effects of Normothermic Conditioned Microwave Irradiation on Cultured Cells Using an Irradiation System with Semiconductor Oscillator and Thermo-regulatory Applicator

We investigated the effects of microwave irradiation under normothermic conditions on cultured cells. For this study, we developed an irradiation system constituted with semiconductor microwave oscillator (2.45 GHz) and thermos-regulatory applicator, which could irradiate microwaves at varied output powers to maintain the temperature of cultured cells at 37 °C. Seven out of eight types of cultured cells were killed by microwave irradiation, where four were not affected by thermal treatment at 42.5 °C. Since the dielectric properties such as ε’, ε” and tanδ showed similar values at 2.45 GHz among cell types and media, the degree of microwave energy absorbed by cells might be almost the same among cell types. Thus, the vulnerability of cells to microwave irradiation might be different among cell types. In HL-60 cells, which were the most sensitive to microwave irradiation, the viability decreased as irradiation time and irradiation output increased; accordingly, the decrease in viability was correlated to an increase in total joule. However, when a high or low amount of joules per minute was supplied, the correlation between cellular viability and total joules became relatively weak. It is hypothesized that kinds of cancer cells are efficiently killed by respective specific output of microwave under normothermic cellular conditions.

Microwave heating behavior and microwave absorption properties of barium titanate at high temperatures

The temperature dependence of the microwave absorption behavior of BaTiO3 particles was investigated over various frequencies and temperatures of 25-1000 ∘C. First, using both the coaxial transmission line method and the cavity perturbation method by a network analyzer, the real and imaginary parts of the relative permittivity of BaTiO3 (er′ and er″, respectively) were measured, in order to improve the reliability of the data obtained at 2.45 GHz. The imaginary parts of the relative permittivity as measured by the two methods were explored by their heating behaviors. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the microwave absorption behavior of BaTiO3 particles was investigated for frequencies of 2.0-13.5 GHz and temperatures of 25-1000 ∘C using the coaxial transmission line method.

Effect of Aspect Ratio on the Permittivity of Graphite Fiber in Microwave Heating

Microwave (MW) heating has received attention as a new heating source for various industrial processes. Some materials are expected to be a more effective absorber of MW, and graphite is observed as a possible candidate for high-temperature application. We investigated the dependence of the aspect ratio of graphite fibers on both their heating behavior and permittivity under a 2.45 GHz MW electric field. In these experiments, both loss tangent and MW heating behavior indicated that the MW absorption of conductive fibers increases with their aspect ratio. The MW absorption was found to be well accounted for by the application of a spheroidal model for a single fiber. The absorption of graphite fibers decreases with increasing aspect ratio when the long axis of the ellipsoid is perpendicular to the electric field, whereas it increases with the aspect ratio when the long axis is parallel to the electric field. The analytical model indicated that MW heating of the conductive fibers is expected to depend on both the shape and arrangement of the fibers in the electric field.