Simplicity And Reliability

Magnetron microwave sources were first used in radar applications in the early 1940s during World War II. Raytheon then adapted the magnetron technology for use in food-heating applications, which gained widespread commercial ground in the late 1970s. Over the coming decades, microwave heating expanded into other industries such as wood drying, materials treatment, etc. (photo from Muegge)

Adsorption processes such as PSAs and TSAs were first patented in the early 1950s, and by the 1970s were heavily adopted in the mainstream industrial space. Today, PSAs and TSAs are critical in a large number of industries. Examples include oxygen production for hospitals, air purification, wastewater treatment, carbon dioxide removal, and chemical refining.

Solvent-based purification columns date back to the 19th century with initial usages focused on distillation processes. While improvements to the physical implementations of such systems have been made over the last two centuries, separations based on vapor-liquid equilibrium have been used in myriad industries at all scales.

Like TSAs, adsorption processes such as PSAs were first patented in the early 1950s, and by the 1970s were heavily adopted in the mainstream industrial space. Today, PSAs and TSAs are critical in a large number of industries. Examples include oxygen production for hospitals, air purification, wastewater treatment, carbon dioxide removal, and chemical refining.