Microwave-heatable pressure reactor

Process for carrying out wet chemical reactions comprising the steps of:

• pressurizing an interior space of a pressure container,
• mixing a portion consisting of liquids or suspensions with a regent to form a reaction mix to be subjected to the wet chemical reaction,
• conveying the reaction mixture into the container,
• generating a microwave field in the container,
• passing the reaction mixture in a microwave-transparent part of a pipeline through the microwave field effective in the container such that the reaction mixture is heated while in the microwave-transparent part of the pipeline, to effect the wet chemical reaction and form a reaction product
• releasing the reaction product after it has been heated into the interior space of the container, and
• removing the reaction product from the container through an outlet opening therein.

Process for sterilizing liquids, comprising the steps of:

• pressurizing an interior space of a pressure container,
• continuously pumping liquid to be sterilized to the container,
• generating a microwave field in the container,
• passing the liquid in a microwave-transparent segment of a pipeline through the microwave field effective in the container such that the liquid is heated while in the microwave-transparent segment of the pipeline,
• releasing the liquid after it has been heated and thus sterilized into the interior space of the container, and
• removing the sterilized liquid from the container through an outlet opening therein.

A microwave-heatable pressure reactor for heating liquids, comprising

• a container having a pressurizable interior space, at least a part of said container comprising microwave-transparent material;
• means coupled to said container for pressurizing said interior space of said container;
• microwave heating means for generating a microwave field to be effective through said microwave-transparent part of said container to provide a heating zone in said interior space of said container;
• a pipeline for conveying a liquid from a source thereof into and at least partially through said container, at least a part of said pipeline situated in said container comprising microwave-transparent material and being arranged in said heating zone, said pipeline having an outlet opening situated in said container through which the liquid is released into said interior space of said container;
• and
• means for pumping the liquid from the source through the pipeline to the container;
• and
• outlet means coupled to said container for removing liquid from said interior space of said container.