Microwave radiation decontamination of mildew infected cotton

The conditions (moisture, temperature, and time) of a 1000 W, 2.45 GHz hous ehold microwave oven required to decontaminate cotton textiles inoculated w ith mildew (Aspergillus niger) are assessed. For samples initially saturate d with water, 24 minutes of microwave irradiation kills mildew on 2 " x 2 " and 4 " x 4 " cotton samples with no significant damage to the fibers, but fails to decontaminate 6 " x 6 " samples. When extra water is added at int ervals during the irradiation, it still takes 21 and 24 minutes to decontam inate the 2 " x 2 " acid 4 " x 4 " cotton samples, respectively. Although t hese results indicate that microwave irradiation has potential as a tool fo r textile decontamination, limitations of conventional household microwave ovens (e.g,, low efficiency. nonuniform heating, and no continuous source o f moisture) need to be assessed and at least partially rectified to render microwave treatment a viable practical tool for textile decontamination.