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Effect of Microwaves on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis

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Samuel A. Goldblith, Daniel I. C. Wang · 1967

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Microwave radiation at 2,450 MHz kills bacteria purely through heating, not electromagnetic effects.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed E. coli bacteria and B. subtilis spores to 2,450 MHz microwave radiation and compared their death rates to conventional heating. They found that microwaves killed the microorganisms at exactly the same rate as regular heat at the same temperature. This suggests microwaves work purely through heating effects, not through any special electromagnetic properties.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagrams extracted from the original research document.

graphPage 2 - Figure 1: Time-temperature heating profile of Escherichia coli in 0.067 M phosphate buffer by microwave energy.
p. 2 of the original PDF
graphPage 3 - AI-described figure: Figure 4. Inactivation of Escherichia coli in 0.067 M phosphate buffer in Radarrange.
p. 3 of the original PDF
graphPage 4 - AI-described figure: Figure 5 illustrates the inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores in a phosphate buffer under microwave heating and direct flame conditions.
p. 4 of the original PDF
graphPage 7 - AI-described figure: Figure 2 illustrates thermal inactivation of Bacillus subtilis var. niger spores in phosphate buffer.
p. 7 of the original PDF
graphPage 8 - AI-described figure: Figure 4 illustrates the inactivation of Escherichia coli at 0.637 g phosphate buffer in a Raditrange.
p. 8 of the original PDF
graphPage 9 - AI-described figure: Figure 5 illustrates the inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores in phosphate buffer under microwave heating and direct flame.
p. 9 of the original PDF
Cite This Study
Samuel A. Goldblith, Daniel I. C. Wang (1967). Effect of Microwaves on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.
Show BibTeX
@article{effect_of_microwaves_on_escherichia_coli_and_bacillus_subtilis_g7043,
  author = {Samuel A. Goldblith and Daniel I. C. Wang},
  title = {Effect of Microwaves on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis},
  year = {1967},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

No. This study found that 2,450 MHz microwaves killed E. coli and B. subtilis spores at exactly the same rate as conventional heating at identical temperatures, proving the effect is purely thermal.
Household microwave ovens operate at 2,450 MHz, the same frequency tested in this bacterial study. This frequency effectively heats water molecules in food through thermal energy transfer.
The study found approximately a 6 log cycle reduction in E. coli viability during microwave heating, meaning 99.9999% of bacteria were killed through thermal effects.
No. Researchers found that microwave energy at 2,450 MHz inactivated bacteria solely through thermal energy, with no additional electromagnetic antimicrobial effects beyond conventional heating.
Yes. B. subtilis spores, which are highly heat-resistant, were inactivated by 2,450 MHz microwaves at the same rate as conventional heating at 100°C.