Method of processing organic materials using microwave radiation

摘要

Infant formula in particle form is sterilized by continuously moving a bulk of the homogenized product particles in a cold environment and exposing the particles to concentrated microwave radiation having a frequency between about 20 GHz to about 200 GHz and sufficient power density to heat the particles to their required sterilization temperature in a selected time period to thereby prevent destruction of particle integrity. The thickness of the bulk is selected to be less than the skin layer for the microwave frequency used in the bulk.