Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of the microwave-accelerated process on the drying kinetics, mechanical properties and surface appearance of rubberwood (Heavea brasiliensis)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Wood and Wood Products Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper investigated the impact of microwave-assisted drying on the energy consumption, drying rate, surface temperature, drying time, static bending properties, and quality of dried rubberwood (Heavea brasiliensis) using different scenarios of combined microwave and convective air drying. Combined microwave and convective drying experiments were performed at frequencies of 2.45 ± 0.05 GHz and microwave power of 4.8 kW, air drying temperatures of 30, 50, and 70 °C, and air drying velocity of 5.0 m/s using a multifeed microwave-convection hot air and continuous belt system (CMCB). The test results showed that rubberwood drying in a microwave system with multiple wave feeding and convection heating together with a conveyor in a hybrid system reduced the moisture of rubberwood from 70% to an average of approximately 20%. In addition, the most suitable conditions for the experiment were drying at an air temperature of 30 °C for 30 min and then in a microwave at 30 °C, compared to 30 °C for 30 min and then turning on the microwave at temperatures of 50 and 70 °C. The minimum energy consumption for drying with this method was 16.3 kWh. The results also indicated that the end quality of rubberwood samples dried under microwave-assisted drying was similar to that of conventional drying but better than that of rubberwood samples dried under combined microwave and air drying.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of data and material (data transparency)

None.

Code availability (software application or custom code)

None.

References

  • British Standards Institution (1957) BS 373: methods of testing small clear specimens of timber is classified in these ICS categories: 79.040 Wood, sawlogs and sawn timber. Pilsen, Czech Republic

  • Charoenvai S, Yingyuen W, Jewyee A, Rattandecho P, Vongpradubchai S (2013) Comparative evaluation on product properties and energy consumption of single microwave dryer and combination of microwave and hot air dryer for durian peel particleboards. Energy Procedia 34:479–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chena L, Yu Z, Xu H, Wan K, Liao Y, Ma X (2019) Microwave-assisted co-pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris and wood sawdust using different additives. Bioresour Technol 273:34–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey MK, Janowiak J, Mack R et al (2016) Comparative study of radio-frequency and microwave heating for phytosanitary treatment of wood. Eur J Wood Prod 74:491–500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansson L, Antti AL (2003) The effect of microwave drying on Norway spruce woods strength: a comparison with conventional drying. J Mater Process Technol 141:41–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansson L, Antti AL (2006) The effect of drying method and temperature level on the hardness of wood. J Mater Process Technol 171:467–470

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He Z, Qian J, Qu L, Wang Z, Yi S (2019) Simulation of moisture transfer during wood vacuum drying. Results Phys 12:1299–1303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henin JM, Leyman M, Bauduin A et al (2014) Phytosanitary treatment of European pallets by microwave: developing a program to ensure compliance with ISPM 15 and monitoring its efficacy on the house longhorn beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus L.). Eur J Wood Prod 72:623–633

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holtz E, Ahrne L, Rittenauer M, Rasmuson A (2010) Influence of dielectric and sorption properties on drying behaviour and energy efficiency during microwave convective drying of selected food and non-food inorganic materials. J Food Eng 97:144–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson A, Fyhr C, Rasmuson A (1997) High temperature convective drying of wood chips with air and superheated steam. Int J Heat Mass Transf 40(12):2843–2858

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kowalskii SJ, Rajewska K (2009) Effectiveness of hybrid drying. Chem Eng Process 48:1302–1309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lv H-F, Ma X-X, Zhang B et al (2017) Microwave-vacuum drying of round bamboo: a study of the physical properties. Constr Build Mater 211:44–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metaxas AC (1991) Microwave heating. J Microw Power Electromag Energy 237–247

  • Ouertani S, Koubaa A, Azzouz S et al (2018) Microwave drying kinetics of jack pine wood: determination of phytosanitary efficacy, energy consumption, and mechanical properties. Eur J Wood Prod 76:1101–1111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prommas R, Rattanadecho P, Jindarat W (2012) Energy and exergy analyses in drying process of non-hygroscopic porous packed bed using a combined multi-feed microwave-convective air and continuous belt system (CMCB). Int Commun Heat Mass Transfer 39:242–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratnasingam J, Grohmann R, Scholz F (2010) Drying quality of rubberwood: an industrial perspective. Eur J Wood Prod 68:115–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rattanadecho P (2006) The simulation of microwave heating of wood using a rectangular waveguide: influence of frequency and sample size. Chem Eng Sci 61:4798–4811

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vongpradubchai S, Rattanadecho P (2009) The microwave processing of wood using a continuous microwave belt drier. Chem Eng Process 48:997–1003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully thank you for Thailand Government Budget Grant and PMU B (Contract No. B05F630092) provided financial support for this study.

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) under RTA 5980009 (Funder ID: http://doi.org/10.13039/501100004396).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Centre of Excellence in Electromagnetic Energy Utilization in Engineering (C.E.E.E.), Thammasat University, (Rangsit Campus), 99 Moo 18, Klong Luang, 12120, Pathumthani, Thailand

    Somsak Vongpradubchai & Phadungsak Rattanadecho

  2. Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Phranakhon Rajabhat University, 9 Changwattana Road, Bangkhen, Bangkok, 10220, Thailand

    Natt Makul

Authors
  1. Somsak Vongpradubchai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Natt Makul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Phadungsak Rattanadecho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors whose names appear on the submission as follows: (1) made substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; or the creation of new software used in the work; (2) drafted the work or revised it critically for important intellectual content; (3) approved the version to be published; and (4) agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Phadungsak Rattanadecho.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vongpradubchai, S., Makul, N. & Rattanadecho, P. Influence of the microwave-accelerated process on the drying kinetics, mechanical properties and surface appearance of rubberwood (Heavea brasiliensis). Eur. J. Wood Prod. 80, 395–407 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-021-01766-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-021-01766-3

Search

Navigation