In early 1987, an Industrial microwave research team was established at Wollongong University, Australia. The team was a collaboration of industry and government and its purpose was investigating and developing industrial applications of microwave energy. The early work was under the directorship of Professor Howard K. Worner and Assoc Professor Frank Paoloni. At that time, Professor Worner was a distinguished Australian scientist with a background in chemistry and metallurgy and Assoc Professor Frank Paoloni was an engineer with high temperature plasma experience. Eventually the focus moved away from automation towards industrial microwave research and development. This industrial research and development organisation became Advanced Microwave Technologies, under the direction of electrical and microwave engineer David McLean.

Advanced Microwave Technologies’ projects over the years have been spread across a wide variety of industries and disciplines. Early projects were funded mainly by the Australian mineral industry and included:

  • high temperature smelting of metals from their ores using microwaves,

  • microwave extraction of oil from shale,

  • microwave processing and

  • drying of coal.

AMT’s early experience in microwave processing of chemicals included:

  • the microwave distillation of oils from shale,

  • the microwave assisted cyanide extraction of gold from mine tailings,

  • microwave extraction of essential oils from plant materials,

  • microwave sterilisation of wastes,

  • the use of microwave generated plasma for destruction of chlorine containing wastes, dioxins, accelerated organic reactions (zinc and polymer compounds),

  • plus many other applications.

History

Advanced Microwave Technologies have since been directly involved in over 30 innovative projects across a wide range of industries within Australia and around the world:

  • • Microwave Coking of coal (India)

    • Oil Refining (Australia)

    • Hazardous Waste Processing (Australia)

    • Soil, Concrete & Asphalt Remediation for PFAS Contamination (Australia)

    • Coal Comminution Assistance (Australia)

    • Vermiculite Expansion (Australia)

    • Rare Earth Component Manufacturing (USA)

    • Soil and Seed Sterilization (Australia)

    • Microwave Plastics Pyrolysis (USA)

    • Microwave Rubber Tire Curing (Sri Lanka)

    • High Speed Coffee Cup Manufacturing (USA)

    • Reversible Animal Stunning (Australia)

    Development of a process for the humane stunning of sheep and cattle

    • Rapid microwave vending system for frozen foods (Australia)

    • Microwave processing of Nano-particles (Singapore)

    Development of a continuous process for the production of Nano-particles.

    • Microwave production of acid (USA)

    Development of a continuous process for the production of acid.

    • Microwave processing of frozen butter blocks (Australia)

    Development of a semi-continuous process for the butter processing

    • Microwave PVC curing system (Australia)

    Development of a continuous process for curing PVC carpet base.

    • Microwave system for Oil rigs (Malaysia)

    Development of microwave system for a Hazardous area Zone1 Group IIa.

    • Microvac Process (Australia)

    A process for the recovery of oil and carbon from rubber tyres.

    • Vegetable Blanching Process (Australia)

    Design and development of an industrial microwave vegetable blanching process.

    • Tire De-polymerisation (Australia)

    Process for the recovery of oil and carbon from rubber tyres

    • Continuous Fruit Cooker (Australia)

    Design and development of a continuous system for cooking fruit in jars.

    • Building Panel Dryer (Australia)

    Design and development of a continuous system for processing building panels.

    • EAF Dust Smelter (Australia)

    Design and development of a high temperature process for the recovery of zinc from Electric Arc Furnace Dust.

    • Wool Bale Warmer (Italy & Czech Republic)

    Design, construction and installation of fully automated microwave wool-bale processing lines.

    • Packaging Processor (New Zealand)

    Design and construction of a high power density microwave system for producing a starch based packaging system.

    • Vending Machine (Australia)

    Designed and developed of a microwave cavity system for thawing and heating pies.

    • Super Conductor Coil Winder (Australia)

    Design, construction and installation of a coil winding machine for high temperature Super-conducting tape.

    • Rotary Dryer/Roaster (Australia)

    Design, development and construction of system for drying/roasting granular products.

    • Timber Processing System (Australia)

    System developed and constructed for warming timber kitchen doors, prior to laminating

    • Wool Bale Strap Remover (Australia)

    Development of a machine to automatically remove and dump steel strapping around wool bales.

    • Chemical Processing (South Africa)

    Assisted in the development and supplied a 75kW microwave chemical processing system for de-polymerisation of PMMA.

    • Ceramic Ware Mould Drier (Australia)

    Design and construction of a 105kW automatic microwave system for the production of sanitary ware products.

    • Fat Melters (Australia)

    Microwave systems for fat melting in the confectionery industry.

    • Rubber Volcanisation System (Australia)

    Microwave system and dwell oven for processing extruded rubber.

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