Microwave drying is an emerging technology that could be used as an alternative to the current method which most often uses heat from burning natural gas. Microwave energy causes the molecules of the material irradiated (referred to as the load) to vibrate more rapidly, creating friction and hence heat.
Drying takes place in a different way than the current standard, with heat being generated within the molecules of the feedstock itself rather than being applied from an outside source. This method claims not only to be more energy efficient than the current method but also to do less harm to the feedstock, preserving nutritional characteristics of the product for livestock feed.
File Attached: Microwave_Drying_of_Wet_Beet_Pulp_Initiative_Final_Report-6-4-09.pdf
