The Effects of Microwaves on Airborne Microorganisms

Abstract

This paper reports preliminary results of simple experiments carried out to study the effects of microwave irradiation at 2.45 GHz on fungi, yeast and bacteria of the type encountered in food processing plants or in enclosures containing individuals infected with tuberculosis mycobacterium (TB). The results are sufficiently encouraging to justify further multivariable experiments particularly with air circulation schemes in which the air can be sterilized in a circular cylindrical microwave cavity operating at a higher order mode.