Monitoring and control system for tuneable high frequency microwave assisted chemistry

Microwave chemistry is an established technique in the synthesis of organic compounds at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. This is considered to be a result of the development of microwave ovens, rather than an objective solution, which maximises efficiency through careful selection of the operating frequency. To obtain a frequency for a dielectric, the complex permittivity should be determined as a function of frequency. If the correct heating frequency is found, superheating can occur when a liquid solvent reaches its boiling point and exceeds it. This paper presents sensor diodes and temperature sensors used in a mono-mode reactor, with computer control of an E-H tuner, frequency and incident power to control temperature and power, experimental results showing heating and reactions using ethanol are reported