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The use of Magnetite as a Facilitator for the Microwave Heating of Contaminated Soils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Clifford E. George Ph.D.
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box CN, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Gunda V.N. Rao
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box CN, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Jennifer D. Guice
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box CN, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
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Abstract

Previous research work in the area of microwave heating for low temperature thermal desorption of contaminates has led to a novel method of delivering heat energy to contaminated materials (soils) that have poor electrical characteristics for the absorption of microwaves. This method involves the use of a heating facilitator. The facilitator, which in this case is a ferromagnetic material (magnetite), is admixed with the soil or sludge to be treated. When exposed to microwave energy, the facilitator preferentially absorbs the energy and transfers heat to the contaminated matrix. Using this method, it has been possible to achieve temperatures in excess of 900 °C (1650 °F) in test soils. At these temperatures, even the highest molecular weight hydrocarbon contaminants are compelled to desorb from the soil.

The advantage of using magnetite is that it can be separated by conventional separation methods for recycle and reuse. The technology has implications of being useful in several chemical processing operations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1994

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References

REFERENCES

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