Process for treating tobacco and similar organic materials

Apparatus for treating tobacco and similar organic materials which previously have been impregnated with an inert organic liquid and heated above the boiling point of the inert organic liquid with a hot first gas to produce expanded organic materials containing residual amounts of inert organic liquid, said apparatus comprising

• (a) a microwave chamber having an inlet section, an outlet section and a central section located between and connected to said inlet and outlet sections,
• (b) conveyor means arranged within said microwave chamber and having a conveying surface for supporting and transporting a layer of expanded organic materials containing residual amounts of inert organic liquid,
• (c) means for directing microwave energy into the central section of the microwave chamber to vaporize the residual amounts of inert organic liquid contained in the expanded organic materials and
• (d) nozzle means associated with said conveying surface in said central section of the microwave chamber for directing a second gas into contact with the organic materials as the organic materials are being subjected to microwave energy.