Talk:Radio wave pest control

RF TREATMENT PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT AND SCALE-UP FOR WALNUTS
In the pilot-scale phase of developing an RF treatment protocol, the walnut kernel temperature-time profile was determined first with selected treatment parameters. Since the walnut kernel temperature is linearly proportional to the heating time in RF systems (Wang et al., 2001a,), increasing treatment time at a given heating rate results in increased walnut kernel temperatures, thereby increasing insect mortality. The first laboratory-scale RF treatment to control codling moth in walnuts was developed in 2001 to meet the phytosanitary regulations of Japan and South Korea (Wang et al., 2001a). Based on the thermal-death-time (TDT) curve of codling moth, heating times of 1, 2, and 3 min were selected to obtain a range of mortality levels after 5 min of holding time at the final core temperature. Candidate RF treatments that provided 100% mortality of codling moth were then tested against uninfested walnuts to evaluate commodity quality. The first step in commercializing the RF treatment was to determine heating uniformity. The critical factors considered in this study included initial temperatures and moisture content (5–8% after pre-dehydration). Tests were conducted to determine the heating uniformity index for a single perforated plastic container and a continuous process (17 identical containers) using stored walnuts from the previous season (11 kg per container). Walnut surface temperatures were measured with a thermal imaging camera before and after RF heating. In the commercial RF system, the uniformity index value, was determined by thermal imaging to be 0.103 for in-shell walnuts in stationary containers and 0.061 when heated on a moving belt with circulating air at 60°C added to maintain surface temperature and a thorough mixing in the middle of the RF heating time. Thermal treatments to control quarantine pests are developed most efficiently with a systematic approach using the thermal death kinetics of the target insect, knowledge of commodity quality degradation kinetics, and engineering principles for delivering the thermal energy uniformly in commercial treatments. Commercial applications of heat treatments for in-shell walnuts demonstrate that these treatments are a viable alternative to fumigation with toxic compounds for some commodities. However, dry agricultural commodities can tolerate the thermal conditions required to control insect pests. Systematic studies of commodity and target pest thermal kinetics and pilot-scale testing of candidate treatments for both efficacy and commodity quality are required for each commodity and pest complex. Engineering and economic studies are required to determine the commercial viability of candidate treatments, and confirmatory tests are required for regulatory approval. Ultimately, this overall process of research, development, and commercialization will result in the expansion and diversification of agricultural exports and assurance of quarantine security against the spread of unwanted pests through marketing channels. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.121.201.85 (talk) 22:24, 31 March 2009 (UTC)