Parameters for scale-up of lethal microwave treatment to eradicate cerambycid larvae infesting solid wood packing materials

Mary R. Fleming; John J. Janowiak; Joseph Kearns; Jeffrey E. Shield; Rustum Roy; Dinesh K. Agrawal; Leah Bauer; Kelli Hoover

Treesearch

Parameters for scale-up of lethal microwave treatment to eradicate cerambycid larvae infesting solid wood packing materials

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Mary R. Fleming, John J. Janowiak, Joseph Kearns, Jeffrey E. Shield, Rustum Roy, Dinesh K. Agrawal, Leah Bauer, Kelli Hoover

Year:

2004

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

Forest Products Journal. 54(7/8): 80-84.

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Abstract

The use of microwave irradiation to eradicate insects infesting wood used to manufacture packing materials such as pallets and crateswas evaluated. The focus of this preliminary studywas to determinewhich microwave parameters, including chamber-volume to sample-volumeratios,variations ofpower and time, and energydensity (total microwavepower/woodvolume), affect the lethalmicrowave dose required for laboratory-size samples of red pine infested with cerambycid larvae. Energy densitywas an acceptable parameter to predict lethal 2.45GHzmicrowave doseswhenwood moisture contentwas held constant. Studies designed to verify these results using commercial-size loads are in progress.

Citation

Fleming, Mary R.; Janowiak, John J.; Kearns, Joseph; Shield, Jeffrey E.; Roy, Rustum; Agrawal, Dinesh K.; Bauer, Leah S.; Miller, Deborah L.; Hoover, Kelli. 2004. Parameters for scale-up of lethal microwave treatment to eradicate cerambycid larvae infesting solid wood packing materials. Forest Products Journal. 54(7/8): 80-84.