Thirty years of fast-tracking chemical reactions with microwaves: Aspirin case

This paper compares empirical chemical kinetic equations for salicylic acid acylation obtained under 2.45 GHz electromagnetic radiation with conventional electric heating. Results show changes in the activation energy value and in reactions orders, which indicate an alteration of the reaction mechanism. This mechanism alteration is accepted as the cause for microwave enhancement of this reaction. A new concept of microwave irradiated chemical reactor used in these experiments is described.