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Title: REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF RADIO-FREQUENCY AND MICROWAVE ENERGY FOR STORED- GRAIN INSECT CONTROL

Author
item Nelson, Stuart

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Because of concerns about the health hazards of chemical pesticides, the use of radio-frequency (RF) or microwave energy is frequently suggested for exploration as a new means of controlling stored-grain and other stored- product insects. Many scientists do not realize that this topic was studied extensively 25 to 40 years ago. Although microwave heating has become fami- -liar to many with the acceptance of the domestic microwave oven, the appli cation of electromagnetic energy for stored-grain insect control has never come into use. This paper provides background technical information rela- tive to this problem, reviews the experimental findings about effects of RF and microwave energy on insects that research has uncovered over the past 70 years, and offers an assessment of the potential for practical applica- tion of this form of energy for controlling stored-grain insects. The sim- imilarities and differences of RF dielectric heating and microwave heating are pointed out, and the entomological and physical factors affecting the use of such energy for treating infested grain are discussed. Research re- sults comparing grain treatment with RF dielectric heating and microwave heating show that the frequency range between about 10 and 100 MHz, in the dielectric heating range, is more efficient than electric energy and the microwave heating for the control of stored-grain insects. However, the equipment costs are much too high to be considered for practical use.

Technical Abstract: Fundamental principles of radio-frequency (RF) and microwave dielectric heating are presented, with a basic consideration of differential or selective absorption of energy from RF and microwave fields that might be applicable for stored-grain insect control. Experimental findings of the past 50 years are reviewed, with respect to entomological and physical factors affecting the response of insects exposed to RF and microwave electromagnetic fields in grain and grain products. Practical aspects of RF and microwave energy application for stored-grain insect control are considered, and it is concluded that such use is highly unlikely without some new discovery of a nonthermal lethal mechanism that might be exploited for this purpose.