Patent ID: 7486248

Claim:
A demulsification arrangement usable with a power source to remove a microwave-absorptive material from a substrate, the demulsification arrangement comprising: a containment structure defining a treatment volume and adaptable to receive an emulsion comprising the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate; outside the containment structure, a radio frequency (RF) generator connectable to the power source and configured to generate an RF signal; and inside the containment structure and surrounded by the emulsion within the treatment volume, an RF applicator operatively coupled to the RF generator to deliver microwave energy outwardly from the RF applicator into the treatment volume, the RF applicator comprising an antenna body having a longitudinal axis, the antenna body being tapered in width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a length and an outer surface defining a plurality of slots of continuously varying slot width that are substantially parallel to each other, the slots being distributed evenly along and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an RF transparent antenna enclosure, not in contact with the containment structure, formed around the antenna body to substantially seal the antenna body from the entire treatment volume external to the RF applicator; whereby, when the containment structure contains the emulsion and the RF applicator, and the RF applicator delivers the microwave energy into the treatment volume, the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate are demulsified.