Research

Major Projects:

We explore the use of electromagnetic energy at microwave (MW) and radio frequencies (RF) in developing high-temperature-short-time thermal processes to produce high quality shelf-stable foods. The laboratory is equipped with specialized pilot-scale RF and MW sterilizers for packaged foods, as well dielectric property systems for measurements over a wide range of frequency and temperature, and computer simulation packages to study electric field distributions. The research is supported by US Army and DoD and food companies. WSU is leading a microwave sterilization consortium that consists of several major equipment, packaging and processing companies in developing microwave sterilization protocols.

We study fundamental principles and strategies to develop postharvest quarantine and phsytosanitary treatments based on MW and RF energy to control insect pest in fruits and nuts for domestic and international trade. WSU is leading a consortium supported by the USDA IFAFS program in this research. The consortium consists of four USDA stations and UC Davis.

We are working on several novel drying technologies based on microwave energy, infrared, and other sources of energy to shorten drying times, increase energy efficiency and improve product quality of fruits and vegetables grown in the Pacific Northwest Regions for international trade.

Biological Systems Engineering , PO Box 646120, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-6120, 509-335-1578, Contact Us

Biological Systems Engineering