8/17/08
Novel NIR-system for Norwegian feed miller
The largest Norwegian feed compounder Felleskjøpet Agri, has as the first feed company in the world installed a real time, instant feedback NIR (Near Infra Red) system in one their factories.
The system, called APIS Spektron Feed, was installed in the autumn 2007, have been thoroughly tested and will be installed in the next factory later this year.APIS Spektron Feed measures feed quality parameters and instantly presents the results as numbers and graphs.The well known NIR technology is combined with specially designed software to achieve a system that gives instant feedback to operators, supervisors and quality personnel, enabling fast corrective actions.Manual feed analysis results (e.g. dust or durability) as well as relevant process parameters (eg. temperature) may also be included and presented.Differences to traditional NIRThere are significant differences between APIS Spektron Feed and traditional NIR systems used in laboratories. APIS Spektron Feed is designed for use in industrial environments and the measurement gauge is mounted over conveyor belts or in bulk conveyors.APIS Spektron Feed features include
Presentation of recipe refined targets and tolerances (min/man values)
Measurements and presentation updates may be done every second
Immediate alarms when measurements are outside defined tolerances
Presents continuous actual product cost (as a function of process cost, ingredient cost, actual production and capacity)
Reports with report filters, graphs and numbers
WEB based system – meaning easy access to the system over company intranet or internet. The new product, called APIS Spektron Feed, is developed and sold by the Norwegian company Prediktor.
The system, called APIS Spektron Feed, was installed in the autumn 2007, have been thoroughly tested and will be installed in the next factory later this year.APIS Spektron Feed measures feed quality parameters and instantly presents the results as numbers and graphs.The well known NIR technology is combined with specially designed software to achieve a system that gives instant feedback to operators, supervisors and quality personnel, enabling fast corrective actions.Manual feed analysis results (e.g. dust or durability) as well as relevant process parameters (eg. temperature) may also be included and presented.Differences to traditional NIRThere are significant differences between APIS Spektron Feed and traditional NIR systems used in laboratories. APIS Spektron Feed is designed for use in industrial environments and the measurement gauge is mounted over conveyor belts or in bulk conveyors.APIS Spektron Feed features include
Presentation of recipe refined targets and tolerances (min/man values)
Measurements and presentation updates may be done every second
Immediate alarms when measurements are outside defined tolerances
Presents continuous actual product cost (as a function of process cost, ingredient cost, actual production and capacity)
Reports with report filters, graphs and numbers
WEB based system – meaning easy access to the system over company intranet or internet. The new product, called APIS Spektron Feed, is developed and sold by the Norwegian company Prediktor.
8/13/08
Non-destructive nir technology for fruit and vegetable internal quality assessment, eliminating the skin disturbing effect
The consumer is most of all interested to know the fruit flesh quail- tee regardless of the good-looking appearance of the product offered. Up to now there has not been a consistent approach which theoretically or in practice could lead to a solution of internal quality assessment problem. The Project gives a solution particularly applicable to pot-toes, apples and peaches. The overall objective is to demonstrate anew NIR method for virtual (optical and mathematical) stripping of the skin and a photometric camera for implementation of the method. The camera allows to measure the fruit flesh spectrum without the object physical peeling, hence to predict precisely the internal quality: inside diseases and defects, degree of maturity, flavour etc.
XDS SmartProbe Analyzer
The FOSS XDS SmartProbe Analyzer, based on XDS near-infrared technology, provides the next generation of dedicated NIR analysis for rapid non-destructive measurement of liquid and solid chemical and pharmaceutical formulations.
8/12/08
Proceedings NIR-2005 - 12th Int'l Conference + CD ROM
The NIR-2005 Procedings is a record of the event and contains 164 full manuscripts of the 262 oral and poster presentations that made NIR-2005 a successful event. The conference theme "NIR in action – making a difference" was chosen by the organising committee to reflect the strong emphasis on the practical application of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy across a wide range of topics as practised around the world. The contents published here reflect this emphasis and we hope will serve as an appropriate and useful record of the areas of innovative science that were show-cased during the conference. To ensure their was a complete record of all oral and poster presentations at the Conference, this volume also includes the abstracts of the 97 presentations for which a full manuscript was not received.This proceedings also comes with a fully searchable CD ROM.
8/11/08
Method for providing custom calibration for near infrared instruments for measurement of blood glucose
A method is disclosed for easily and reliably custom calibrating near-infrared quantitative analysis instruments including obtaining a plurality of blood samples and blood glucose level measurements thereof at a predetermined time interval. These values are entered into the analysis instrument. Near-infrared optical measurements of the individual are simultaneously taken using the analysis instrument at another predetermined time interval. Calibration regression analysis is performed on the data to custom calibrate the analysis instrument which involves linearly interpolating the blood sample glucose measurements with the near-infrared optical recordings.
The impact of SCIAMACHY near-infrared instrument calibration on CH4 and CO total columns
The near-infrared spectra measured with the SCIAMACHY instrument on board the ENVISAT satellite suffer from several instrument calibration problems. The effects of three important instrument calibration issues on the retrieved methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO) total columns have been investigated: the effects of the growing ice layer on the near-infrared detectors, the effects of the orbital variation of the instrument dark signal, and the effects of the dead/bad detector pixels. Corrections for each of these instrument calibration issues have been defined. The retrieved CH4 and CO total columns including these corrections show good agreement with CO measurements from the MOPITT satellite instrument and with CH4 model calculations by the chemistry transport model TM3. Using a systematic approach, it is shown that all three instrument calibration issues have a significant effect on the retrieved CH4 and CO total columns. However, the impact on the CH4 total columns is more pronounced than for CO, because of its smaller variability. Results for three different wavelength ranges are compared and show good agreement. The growing ice layer and the orbital variation of the dark signal show a systematic, but time-dependent effect on the retrieved CH4 and CO total columns, whereas the effect of the dead/bad pixels is rather unpredictable: some dead pixels show a random effect, some more systematic, and others no effect at all. The importance of accurate corrections for each of these instrument calibration issues is illustrated using examples where inaccurate corrections lead to a wrong interpretation of the results.
ResearchInChina releases its new report: China Online Gas Analyzer Market Report, 2008
In 2007, the total industrial output value of China instrument industry reached CNY307.8 billion, up 43% year on year, and sales revenue stood at CNY300.5 billion, up 29% year on year, while total profit attained CNY22.5 billion, up 35% year on year. From the perspective of output value, the total industrial output value of China instrument industry broke the mark
of CNY100 billion for the first time in 2004, the mark of CNY200 billion in 2006 and the mark of CNY300 billion in 2007 respectively.In 2007, the import growth of China instrument industry rebounded in the export growth also continued to rise. The total import and export value of the industry reached US$26 billion, of which US$17.2 billion were imports, up 12.3% year on year, and US$88 billion were exports, up 36.1% year on year. China had a trade deficit of US$8.4 billion in instrument trade in the year, a decrease of US$400 million against the previous year. Gas analyzer is a flow analysis meter measuring gas composition. Due to a wide range of analyzed gases and various kinds of analyzing principles, there are a great variety of gas analyzers. Thermal conductivity gas analyzer, electrochemical gas analyzer and infrared absorption analyzer are the most common used. In addition, gas analyzers can be divided into online gas analyzer and offline gas analyzer. This report makes the study on the online gas analyzer. The report is composed of ten chapters, which makes an in-depth analysis on industry environment, upstream & downstream industry chain, domestic market, major producers & distributors, product lines and projects planned and under construction in China online gas analyzer sector, makes a thorough study on competitors, overseas market, investment risks & preventive measures and development trend of production technology, and also make forecasts on the development prospect of the sector.
of CNY100 billion for the first time in 2004, the mark of CNY200 billion in 2006 and the mark of CNY300 billion in 2007 respectively.In 2007, the import growth of China instrument industry rebounded in the export growth also continued to rise. The total import and export value of the industry reached US$26 billion, of which US$17.2 billion were imports, up 12.3% year on year, and US$88 billion were exports, up 36.1% year on year. China had a trade deficit of US$8.4 billion in instrument trade in the year, a decrease of US$400 million against the previous year. Gas analyzer is a flow analysis meter measuring gas composition. Due to a wide range of analyzed gases and various kinds of analyzing principles, there are a great variety of gas analyzers. Thermal conductivity gas analyzer, electrochemical gas analyzer and infrared absorption analyzer are the most common used. In addition, gas analyzers can be divided into online gas analyzer and offline gas analyzer. This report makes the study on the online gas analyzer. The report is composed of ten chapters, which makes an in-depth analysis on industry environment, upstream & downstream industry chain, domestic market, major producers & distributors, product lines and projects planned and under construction in China online gas analyzer sector, makes a thorough study on competitors, overseas market, investment risks & preventive measures and development trend of production technology, and also make forecasts on the development prospect of the sector.
Application Analysis of Near-Infrared Illuminations Using Diode Laser Light Sources
We describe a new class of eye safe near infrared (~810 nm) illuminators based on diode laser sources. These illuminators are the most efficient available by a large margin. We show examples of how the high output allowed by lasers can be used to illuminate very large areas and improve images in difficult lighting situations. We also show examples of how the narrow spectral band of laser light can be used with filtered cameras to achieve unique results in applications such as facial recognition in open daylight. Application data on effective ranges and other factors are presented. Comparisons are made with other lighting systems such as arc lamps, tungsten lamps and light emitting diodes. We also compare results of systems that operate without supplemental light such as intensifi ed cameras and thermal infrared cameras.
Application Note: Monitoring Granulation Drying Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is an analytical technique based on absorption measured between the visible and mid-infrared electromagnetic spectral region. Strong fundamental absorption bands of moieties occur in the mid-IR region and frequently require mulls or dilutions to bring the absorbances within the detector's linear range. The overtone absorptions enable direct measurement without sample preparation because the absorption is relatively weak. Economic fiber-optic cables can be used to measure processes that are located far from the analyzer by inserting probes into processing equipment.
In-line Process Analysis Of Residual Moisture In A Fluid Bed Granulator–Dryer Using NIR Spectroscopy
The authors describe the in-line moisture measurement of a pharmaceutical granulation of lactose, microcrystalline cellulose and crospovidone in a fluid bed granulator–dryer using top sprayed granulating liquid. A near-infrared (NIR) prediction model was developed for moisture on spectra collected during a calibration run. Subsequent granulations were analyzed for moisture content real-time throughout the granulation and drying process using the NIR process instrument.
The FOSS XDS Rapid Liquid Analyser is a new generation FOSS NIR instruments for rapid non-destructive analysis of viscous and liquid samples.
The FOSS XDS Rapid Liquid Analyser is a new generation FOSS NIR instruments for rapid non-destructive analysis of viscous and liquid samples.
The XDS Rapid Liquid Analyser offers outstanding performance in NIR analysis for food, agricultural, chemical and phar-maceutical applications. It is also ideal for use in research laboratories where it provides a highly versatile analysis platform. Technical excellence ensures simplicity of use, efficient analysis operations and the capacity to handle a wide range of sample types.
The instrument provides rapid quantitative and qualitative results for quality control and assurance. Virtually any liquid or suspension can be analyzed in both laboratory and at-line situations. Samples are effortlessly analyzed in quartz cuvettes or disposable vials for trouble-free clean up. A temperature-controlled sample chamber provides the stable sample environment essential for precise measurements.
XDS NIR technology offers the most advanced analyzer performance and instrument matching to enhance method development, minimize implementation time and ensure seamless calibration model transferability between instruments.
For chemical and pharmaceutical applications, identification, qualitative and quantitative methods are easily derived with the advanced, user-friendly, networkable VISION software. For food and agricultural applications, ISIscan™ software provides a user-friendly interface supporting the latest calibration technologies with advanced data exchange (LIMS) and reporting capabilities.
Precise and accurate analysis is accomplished with the press of a key or click of a mouse. The full-visible and near-infrared scanning range with sensitive outlier detection minimises the number of samples needed to get a robust calibration model and provides new opportunities to measure diverse parameters.
A particular application for the XDS Rapid Liquid Analyser is the routine analysis of vegetable oils in the refinery industry and olive oil segregation. Determination of FFA, moisture, Phosphorous, IV, K232, K270, PV in less than a minute allows full control of the vegetable oil refinery process or olive oil segregation without waiting for analytical results.
Peace of mind, reliable results, efficient operations – all are elements of the XDS advantage.
The XDS Rapid Liquid Analyser offers outstanding performance in NIR analysis for food, agricultural, chemical and phar-maceutical applications. It is also ideal for use in research laboratories where it provides a highly versatile analysis platform. Technical excellence ensures simplicity of use, efficient analysis operations and the capacity to handle a wide range of sample types.
The instrument provides rapid quantitative and qualitative results for quality control and assurance. Virtually any liquid or suspension can be analyzed in both laboratory and at-line situations. Samples are effortlessly analyzed in quartz cuvettes or disposable vials for trouble-free clean up. A temperature-controlled sample chamber provides the stable sample environment essential for precise measurements.
XDS NIR technology offers the most advanced analyzer performance and instrument matching to enhance method development, minimize implementation time and ensure seamless calibration model transferability between instruments.
For chemical and pharmaceutical applications, identification, qualitative and quantitative methods are easily derived with the advanced, user-friendly, networkable VISION software. For food and agricultural applications, ISIscan™ software provides a user-friendly interface supporting the latest calibration technologies with advanced data exchange (LIMS) and reporting capabilities.
Precise and accurate analysis is accomplished with the press of a key or click of a mouse. The full-visible and near-infrared scanning range with sensitive outlier detection minimises the number of samples needed to get a robust calibration model and provides new opportunities to measure diverse parameters.
A particular application for the XDS Rapid Liquid Analyser is the routine analysis of vegetable oils in the refinery industry and olive oil segregation. Determination of FFA, moisture, Phosphorous, IV, K232, K270, PV in less than a minute allows full control of the vegetable oil refinery process or olive oil segregation without waiting for analytical results.
Peace of mind, reliable results, efficient operations – all are elements of the XDS advantage.
Performance of FT-NIR instrument for Brix value measurement of intact pear fruit
The performance of a Fourier Transform-Near Infrared (FT-NIR) Instrument for fruit quality evaluation was investigated using pear fruits. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was carried out describing relationships between the data sets of laboratory data and the FT-NIR spectra. Besides cross and test set validation, the established models were subjected to a further evaluation step by means of additional pear samples with unknown Brix value. Performance of different models was also assessed in terms of Standard Errors of Prediction (SEP) and correlation coefficients (r) of validation set of samples. It was found that the calibration equation using interactance spectral data obtained with the FT-NIR instrument had a SEP of 0.32 and correlation coefficient (r) equal to 0.87 for Brix value. Based on the results, it was concluded that FT-NIR instrument could be an accurate and fast method for non-destructive evaluation of pear Brix value.
Quality Control During Processing of Feta Cheese—NIR Application
This work examines the possibility of using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic method for the production process control of the traditional Greek feta cheese. A NIR apparatus (Instalab 600-Dickey–John) was employed. Moisture, fat and protein determinations were selected as calibration set for the instrument. Samples were drawn from well-defined critical points of production. In all the samples conventional chemical methods were applied for the quantitative determination of the above ingredients. Results were compared with the respective data from NIR apparatus. All data were processed by a suitable computer program so that the calibration constants could be calculated and then stored in the apparatus. Their accuracy was verified using an independent set of analyzed samples. Because the NIR apparatus used in this work was not suitable for liquid products, a novel technique was developed using “quartz fine granular washed and calcined GR” (pro analysi). This technique proved to be reliable with a significant accuracy. From this study it can be concluded that NIR technique can be applied successfully for the on-line quality control of the feta cheese production. The reliability, significant reduction of human errors, precision and quickness of NIR spectroscopy experienced during this work, support the implementation of this method. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
8/9/08
Predictive ability of NIR spectroscopy for pig meat quality evaluation
Inspite of intensive research on fast methods for meat quality evaluation, the practical use of such methods under industrial conditions in meat sector remains scarce. NIR spectroscopy is considered as being one of the most promising techniques.The objective of the present study is to evaluate the predictive value of NIR spectroscopy for pig meat quality evaluation, namely to make and evaluate calibrations for intramuscular fat content determination and technological quality of meat. Meat sampling will be adapted to achieve the necessary variation range for each parameter under study and selection based on the principal factors affecting the trait. Thus, for the intramuscular fat, the selection will be based on variation due to the breed (duroc genes), subcutaneus fat thickness, muscle type, whereas for the technological quality of meat, pigs of three genotypes will be selected (NN, Nn, nn) according to ryr1 gene mutation (alelle n) which is responsible for meat of low technological quality. Measurements of some meat quality traits (pH, water holding capacity, colour) and standard chemical analysis of intramuscular fat content will be performed. The reflectance spectra of all samples will be recorded in visual (408-1092 nm) and near-infrared (1108-2492 nm) spectra using NIRSystem 6500 (FOSS). Prediction ability of NIR spectroscopy for determination of intramuscular fat content will be performed on 140 samples (2 muscles, 70 pigs) and for technological quality of meat on 105 samples (105 pigs, 35 pigs per genotype, 1 muscle). Predictions based on spectral information will be made using WinISI statistical package; for linear data global calibration equations with cross-validation will be used. To discriminate between the genotypes NN, Nn, nn, the artificial neural network classifier will be used, a method available in WinISI statistical package.
FOSS releases new analyser for wine quality control
FOSS has released OenoFoss, a new analyser providing instant quality control of grapes and wine.
The simple-to-use OenoFoss analyser meets a growing demand from wine producers for rapid and easy-to-obtain information in support of decisions such as when to pick grapes, how to control fermentation or when to bottle.
It will never replace human judgement, but now two minutes spent using the instrument provides an obvious way to cross-reference generations of experience, ensuring optimal quality in years ahead.
Up to seven quality parameters from a single drop
Traditional analysis involves various items of analysis equipment and takes time. For instance, it can take around 20 minutes to measure a single quality parameter. In contrast, OenoFoss gives winemakers key information quickly.
It measures main quality parameters of grape must, must under fermentation and wine within two minutes from a single drop of a single sample.
Up to seven parameters are measured simultaneously: sugar, pH, total acid, glucose/fructose, malic acid, ethanol, volatile acid and colour. The results are displayed on a computer screen.
Unlimited testing at no extra cost
The OenoFoss instrument is compact, simple-to-use and does not require the use of chemicals. It is ideal for use in small or mid-size wineries.
A point and click software interface allows virtually anyone to use the instrument and record a valid analysis result. Results are automatically stored for future reference.
A FOSS survey of wineries in Australia and New Zealand in 2006 showed that the number of tests on wine during the wine making process was set to double within three years.
The OenoFoss now makes coping with this demand a lot easier and more cost effective for winemakers.
For the way wine is made today
A prototype of the analyser has been tested by a number of wine producers in Europe. The concept was broadly welcomed especially in relation to the time-saving aspects prized by busy winemakers.
Winemaker Tim Knappstein said: “This instrument has the potential for huge time and cost savings and greatly advances the capability of laboratories in smaller wineries. I believe it will give us much greater control of our winemaking process, particularly the management of malolactic fermentation.”
FOSS wine segment manager, Peter Skade said: “Until now, smaller wineries in particular have relied on traditional analysis, which takes time. Now it is in their power to obtain all the data they need whenever they need it.”
Larger wineries and wine laboratories are already served by FOSS WineScan solutions which can deliver measurements for up to 20 quality parameters from a single sample.
The simple-to-use OenoFoss analyser meets a growing demand from wine producers for rapid and easy-to-obtain information in support of decisions such as when to pick grapes, how to control fermentation or when to bottle.
It will never replace human judgement, but now two minutes spent using the instrument provides an obvious way to cross-reference generations of experience, ensuring optimal quality in years ahead.
Up to seven quality parameters from a single drop
Traditional analysis involves various items of analysis equipment and takes time. For instance, it can take around 20 minutes to measure a single quality parameter. In contrast, OenoFoss gives winemakers key information quickly.
It measures main quality parameters of grape must, must under fermentation and wine within two minutes from a single drop of a single sample.
Up to seven parameters are measured simultaneously: sugar, pH, total acid, glucose/fructose, malic acid, ethanol, volatile acid and colour. The results are displayed on a computer screen.
Unlimited testing at no extra cost
The OenoFoss instrument is compact, simple-to-use and does not require the use of chemicals. It is ideal for use in small or mid-size wineries.
A point and click software interface allows virtually anyone to use the instrument and record a valid analysis result. Results are automatically stored for future reference.
A FOSS survey of wineries in Australia and New Zealand in 2006 showed that the number of tests on wine during the wine making process was set to double within three years.
The OenoFoss now makes coping with this demand a lot easier and more cost effective for winemakers.
For the way wine is made today
A prototype of the analyser has been tested by a number of wine producers in Europe. The concept was broadly welcomed especially in relation to the time-saving aspects prized by busy winemakers.
Winemaker Tim Knappstein said: “This instrument has the potential for huge time and cost savings and greatly advances the capability of laboratories in smaller wineries. I believe it will give us much greater control of our winemaking process, particularly the management of malolactic fermentation.”
FOSS wine segment manager, Peter Skade said: “Until now, smaller wineries in particular have relied on traditional analysis, which takes time. Now it is in their power to obtain all the data they need whenever they need it.”
Larger wineries and wine laboratories are already served by FOSS WineScan solutions which can deliver measurements for up to 20 quality parameters from a single sample.
FOSS FoodScan NIR meat analyser receives AOAC approval
The FOSS FoodScan Near Infrared (NIR) analyser has received AOAC approval for the analysis of moisture, fat, and protein in meat and meat products using FOSS artificial neural network (ANN) prediction models. The method number is 2007-04. The approval allows food producers to exploit the leading meat analytical solution with full confidence in an officially approved method. FoodScan is the only NIR analyser for meat analysis with this approval. Established method: FoodScan is a popular NIR analytical solution widely used in the food industry. It is supplied with comprehensive ANN calibrations guaranteeing consistent analysis results across different instruments and locations. A common use is in routine production control where it helps to optimise the ratio between cheaper fat and more expensive lean meat with associated cost savings and improved product consistency. The AOAC approval provides credibility for the extended use of FoodScan in support of quality control operations. FoodScan users can now refer to a documented and tested method, for example, when dealing with product labelling issues. Food producers using FoodScan can also enjoy greater confidence in providing their customers with reliable information based on an approved method. Collaborative study: The AOAC approval is based on a collaborate study involving 15 laboratories in the USA, all of which are existing FoodScan users. A total of 17 instruments were involved, two of the laboratories had two instruments and ran the sample set on both instruments. Ten different samples covering beef, pork, poultry, finishing products and in-process emulsions, representing a wide range in composition were used. They were sent to the collaborators as blind sample pairs making a total of 20 test samples.
8/7/08
Using the power of light
Near Infrared Spectrophotometry (NIRS) equipment implemented correctly in a feed mill enables savings of €2-5 per tonne of feed per year. So says Paul Gerardy of Provimi, who was speaking at the FOSS 50 year jubilee conference in Italy earlier this year.
Chemometric Quantitation of the Active Substance (Containing C≡N) in a Pharmaceutical Tablet Using Near-Infrared (NIR) Transmittance and NIR FT-Raman
Abstract:In this study, near-infrared (NIR) transmittance and Raman spectroscopy chemometric calibrations of the active substance content of a pharmaceutical tablet were developed using partial least-squares regression (PLS). Although the active substance contained the strongly Raman active C≡N functional group, the best results were obtained with NIR transmittance, which highlights the difference between (microscopic) surface sampling and whole tablet diffuse transmittance sampling. The tablets exist in four dosages with only two different concentrations of active substance (5 mg (5.6% w/w), and 10, 15, and 20 mg (8.0% w/w) active substance per tablet). A calibration on all four dosages resulted in a prediction error expressed as the root mean squared error of cross-validation (RMSECV) of 0.30% w/w for the NIR transmittance calibration. The corresponding error when using Raman spectra was 0.56% w/w. Specially prepared calibration batches covering the range 85-115% of the nominal content for each dosage were added to the first sample set, and NIR transmittance calibrations on this set - containing coated as well as uncoated tablets - gave a further reduction in prediction errors to 0.21-0.289% w/w. This corresponds to relative prediction errors (RMSECV/ynom) of 2.6-3.7%. This is a reasonably low error when compared to the error of the chromatographic reference method, which was estimated to 3.5%.
Extending near infrared reflectance (NIR) pulp yield calibrations to new sites and species
Recently, we demonstrated that the accuracy of pulp yield predictions for wood samples from a site (Gog) new to their calibration (Tasmania-wide Eucalyptus nitens) was greatly improved by adding five Gog samples to the calibration set. In this study we investigated the addition of Gog samples to the Tasmania-wide E. nitens set, with the aim of further improving predictive accuracy. It was demonstrated that the addition of a single Gog sample to the Tasmania-wide calibration set was sufficient to greatly reduce predictive errors and that the inclusion of at least 3 Gog samples in the Tasmania-wide set was sufficient to give relatively stable predictive errors. The addition of different sets of 5 Gog samples to the Tasmania-wide calibration, however, caused predictive errors to vary between sets. The standard deviation of pulp yield for the prediction set (20 Gog samples) was important, with sets having the largest standard deviations giving the best predictive statistics. Finally, the Tasmania-wide E. nitens calibration was enhanced using samples from a different species (Eucalyptus globulus) and applied successfully to other E. globulus samples.
Journal Title
Journal of wood chemistry and technology ISSN 0277-3813 CODEN JWCTDJ
Source
2006, vol. 26, no4, pp. 299-311 [13 page(s) (article)] (14 ref.)
Journal Title
Journal of wood chemistry and technology ISSN 0277-3813 CODEN JWCTDJ
Source
2006, vol. 26, no4, pp. 299-311 [13 page(s) (article)] (14 ref.)
NIR Spectrometer covers 850-2,500 nm wavelength range.
August 1, 2008 - Measuring 110 x 88 x 39 mm², SuperGamut(TM) f/2 NIR spectrometer allows integration into portable/handheld test equipment. It has solid-state design based on in-house Volume Phase Gratings(TM) in conjunction with linear photodiode arrays. Unit is suited for wide range of applications including process automation technology, petrochemical facilities, pharmaceuticals, food processing, agricultural feed monitoring, semiconductor wafer monitoring, and pulp/paper monitoring.
8/5/08
NEAR-INFRARED (NIR) RESEARCH AT THE BELTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER
Submitted to: NIR news (Near Infrared Reflectance News) Publication Type: Popular Publication Publication Acceptance Date: September 9, 2005 Publication Date: September 30, 2005 Citation: Reeves III, J.B., Delwiche, S.R., Daughtry, C.S., Luthria, D.L. 2005. Near-infrared (nir) research at the beltsville agricultural research center. NIR News. 1616:9-12, part 1 split into two issues. 1618, part 2. p. 12-13.
Technical Abstract: For many, the application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to agricultural products started at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) with the research by Karl Norris on forages and other agricultural products. While research on NIRS is still ongoing at BARC, the focus has changed over the years and today no forage or animal related NIRS research is performed. Also, at the present time, NIRS research is performed in four different and for the most part independent research laboratories: Hydrology and Remote Sensing, Instrumentation and Sensing, Food Composition (human nutrition) and Environmental Management and By-Products Utilization (recently Animal Manure and By-Products). Within the Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab, the programs primarily involve the use of NIR and remote sensing, while for the Food Composition Lab, the interest is in the development of new applications for differentiation and analysis of new value-added functional foods or dietary supplements from conventional products. Projects within the Instrumentation and Sensing Lab range from development of automated inspection systems for poultry, fruits and vegetables, to research on the quality and safety of small grains and oilseeds. Finally research in the Environmental Management and By-Products Utilization Lab is centered on environmental issues related to animal manures and carbon sequestration (Program divided with the Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab.). In summary, NIRS research at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center today centers more on human nutrition, health concerns related to food quality, and environmental issues than in the past when efforts were more related to forages and similar agricultural products.
Technical Abstract: For many, the application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to agricultural products started at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) with the research by Karl Norris on forages and other agricultural products. While research on NIRS is still ongoing at BARC, the focus has changed over the years and today no forage or animal related NIRS research is performed. Also, at the present time, NIRS research is performed in four different and for the most part independent research laboratories: Hydrology and Remote Sensing, Instrumentation and Sensing, Food Composition (human nutrition) and Environmental Management and By-Products Utilization (recently Animal Manure and By-Products). Within the Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab, the programs primarily involve the use of NIR and remote sensing, while for the Food Composition Lab, the interest is in the development of new applications for differentiation and analysis of new value-added functional foods or dietary supplements from conventional products. Projects within the Instrumentation and Sensing Lab range from development of automated inspection systems for poultry, fruits and vegetables, to research on the quality and safety of small grains and oilseeds. Finally research in the Environmental Management and By-Products Utilization Lab is centered on environmental issues related to animal manures and carbon sequestration (Program divided with the Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab.). In summary, NIRS research at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center today centers more on human nutrition, health concerns related to food quality, and environmental issues than in the past when efforts were more related to forages and similar agricultural products.
Fruit Inspection
Infrared imaging can be used in on-line inspection systems for non-destructive inspection of fruit quality. Using infrared and photometric imaging devices, automatic evaluation and sorting systems can detect the sugar content and acidity of fruit on an assembly line, as well as other data such as internal defects. Accurate information provided by the equipment about fruit quality can help make fruit grading more precise.
Contact XenICs to find an optimal solution for your fruit inspection applications.
Contact XenICs to find an optimal solution for your fruit inspection applications.
8/4/08
The counterfeiting of medicines has been known of since around 1990 and is a growing problem-in both developing and developed countries. Counterfeit m
Counterfeiting can apply to both branded and generic products, with counterfeit products including drugs with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients; without active ingredients, with insufficient active ingredient or with fake packaging. The increased occurrence of counterfeit medicines has several serious consequences. These may include illness or death of patients, higher medical insurance and lost revenues to pharmaceutical manufacturers and governments. Children are particularly at risk. Diminished public confidence in both health care providers and the medicines supply chain could indirectly lead to increased illness (as a result of non-adherence) which would strain health care services. Damage to a brand’s credibility could tarnish a manufacturer’s reputation, not to forget the substantial loss of revenues.
The recent discovery of counterfeit medicines in the UK supply chain prompted Professor Moffat, Dr O’Neil and their colleagues at the Centre for Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, to develop a rapid, precise and portable analytical technique for in-field use. Working with samples provided by the Korean Food and Drugs Agency and a portable transmittance near infrared (NIR) spectrometer developed by NIR Technology Systems they have the answer to identifying counterfeits where they choose. This ability to replace laboratory analysis with the use of a portable instrument at the point of sampling is an attractive option for regulatory authorities. Furthermore, the NIR technique is rapid, precise, non-destructive and costs very little to operate.
Their findings have been published in the latest edition of the Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy. “Near infrared spectroscopy is a scientific tool which has helped us understand the differences between genuine and counterfeit drugs, even those which look exactly the same to the naked eye,” Professor Moffat said. As well as being able to identify counterfeit from genuine tablets, the chemical information provided by NIR spectroscopy helps identify the likely origin of the tablet. Thus law enforcement agencies obtain valuable information about the laboratories manufacturing counterfeit medicines.
The present paper was presented at the 13th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Umea, Sweden. Professor Moffat, together with his students and collaborators, are also developing the technique of NIR spectroscopy for the quality assurance of medicines and to ensure that manufacturing methods are efficient and effective. “Our studies also have relevance to the formulation development of new medicines to make sure that patients get the right drug at the right amount at the right time”, said Professor Moffat.
http://www.impublications.com
The recent discovery of counterfeit medicines in the UK supply chain prompted Professor Moffat, Dr O’Neil and their colleagues at the Centre for Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, to develop a rapid, precise and portable analytical technique for in-field use. Working with samples provided by the Korean Food and Drugs Agency and a portable transmittance near infrared (NIR) spectrometer developed by NIR Technology Systems they have the answer to identifying counterfeits where they choose. This ability to replace laboratory analysis with the use of a portable instrument at the point of sampling is an attractive option for regulatory authorities. Furthermore, the NIR technique is rapid, precise, non-destructive and costs very little to operate.
Their findings have been published in the latest edition of the Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy. “Near infrared spectroscopy is a scientific tool which has helped us understand the differences between genuine and counterfeit drugs, even those which look exactly the same to the naked eye,” Professor Moffat said. As well as being able to identify counterfeit from genuine tablets, the chemical information provided by NIR spectroscopy helps identify the likely origin of the tablet. Thus law enforcement agencies obtain valuable information about the laboratories manufacturing counterfeit medicines.
The present paper was presented at the 13th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Umea, Sweden. Professor Moffat, together with his students and collaborators, are also developing the technique of NIR spectroscopy for the quality assurance of medicines and to ensure that manufacturing methods are efficient and effective. “Our studies also have relevance to the formulation development of new medicines to make sure that patients get the right drug at the right amount at the right time”, said Professor Moffat.
http://www.impublications.com
Thermo Fisher Scientific UK Announces European NIR Seminar in the UK
Thermo Fisher Scientific UK - European NIR Seminar:- 30th September 2008, Thermo Fisher Scientific Hemel Hempstead office, UKThermo Fisher Scientific will host a European NIR Seminar in the UK. Aimed at both new and experienced users, the meeting will discuss the application of NIR spectroscopy using Thermo Scientific instrumentation and also offer the opportunity for a question and answer session.
The seminar will be hosted by representatives from Thermo Fisher and their customers and will cover the latest advances and applications of NIR instrumentation.Seminar highlights include presentations from:- Neville Broad, Abbot - The non-invasive analysis of bottled liquid pharmaceutical samples by NIRS- Wayne Sinclair, Bristol Myers Squibb - The application of NIR for content uniformity and blend monitoring- Laura La Monica, Wyeth - Analysis of moisture in fluid bed dryer- Sheelagh Halsey, Thermo Fisher Scientific - NIR applicationsAttendance is free of charge on a first come first served basis. Please e-mail ashley.gaches@thermofisher.com for registration details.
The seminar will be hosted by representatives from Thermo Fisher and their customers and will cover the latest advances and applications of NIR instrumentation.Seminar highlights include presentations from:- Neville Broad, Abbot - The non-invasive analysis of bottled liquid pharmaceutical samples by NIRS- Wayne Sinclair, Bristol Myers Squibb - The application of NIR for content uniformity and blend monitoring- Laura La Monica, Wyeth - Analysis of moisture in fluid bed dryer- Sheelagh Halsey, Thermo Fisher Scientific - NIR applicationsAttendance is free of charge on a first come first served basis. Please e-mail ashley.gaches@thermofisher.com for registration details.
8/2/08
การตรวจสอบคุณภาพภายในของผลมังคุดโดยวิธีการไม่ทำลายด้วยวิธี NIR Spectroscopy
NONDESTRUCTIVE DETERMINATION OF QUALITY OF MANGOSTEEN USING NEAR INFRARED (NIR) SPECTROSCOPY
บทคัดย่อ
ปริญญานิพนธ์ฉบับนี้ เป็นการวิจัยเกี่ยวกับการตรวจสอบคุณภาพภายในของผลมังคุดโดยไม่ทำลายด้วยวิธี NIR Spectroscopy จากการศึกษาการทดลองพบว่า วิธี NIR Spectroscopy ไม่สามารถแยกผลมังคุดที่มีลักษณะเป็นเนื้อแก้วออกจากเนื้อปกติได้ แต่สามารถตรวจสอบความแน่นเนื้อของผลมังคุดที่แรง 30 N ด้วยค่า Hardness (r = 0.92, SEE = 0.879, SEP = 1.016, Bias = 3.905E-15) และค่า Degree of Elasticity (r = 0.92, SEE = 0.077, SEP = 0.076, Bias = 3.706E-16) และยังพบว่ามังคุดจะไม่เกิดจุดคลาก (Yield Point) ที่แรงกระทำไม่เกิน 10 N
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a research which was to investigate the quality of mangosteens by nondestructive evaluation using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. It was found that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was not able to separate the defected mangosteens from the good ones, but their texture properties can be detectable with two parameters. The first parameter is the hardness at 30 N forces, the results showed that the multiple correlation coefficient (R) is 0.92, the standard error of estimate (SEE) is 0.879 N/mm, the standard error of prediction (SEP) is 1.016 N/mm and the bias is 3.906*10-15 N/mm. The second parameter is the degree of elasticity, the results showed that the values are 0.92, 0.077, 0.076 and 3.706*10-16, respectively. According to the plate compression test, the mangosteens have not reached the bioyield point when the forces were not exceeded 10 N forces.
บทคัดย่อ
ปริญญานิพนธ์ฉบับนี้ เป็นการวิจัยเกี่ยวกับการตรวจสอบคุณภาพภายในของผลมังคุดโดยไม่ทำลายด้วยวิธี NIR Spectroscopy จากการศึกษาการทดลองพบว่า วิธี NIR Spectroscopy ไม่สามารถแยกผลมังคุดที่มีลักษณะเป็นเนื้อแก้วออกจากเนื้อปกติได้ แต่สามารถตรวจสอบความแน่นเนื้อของผลมังคุดที่แรง 30 N ด้วยค่า Hardness (r = 0.92, SEE = 0.879, SEP = 1.016, Bias = 3.905E-15) และค่า Degree of Elasticity (r = 0.92, SEE = 0.077, SEP = 0.076, Bias = 3.706E-16) และยังพบว่ามังคุดจะไม่เกิดจุดคลาก (Yield Point) ที่แรงกระทำไม่เกิน 10 N
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a research which was to investigate the quality of mangosteens by nondestructive evaluation using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. It was found that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was not able to separate the defected mangosteens from the good ones, but their texture properties can be detectable with two parameters. The first parameter is the hardness at 30 N forces, the results showed that the multiple correlation coefficient (R) is 0.92, the standard error of estimate (SEE) is 0.879 N/mm, the standard error of prediction (SEP) is 1.016 N/mm and the bias is 3.906*10-15 N/mm. The second parameter is the degree of elasticity, the results showed that the values are 0.92, 0.077, 0.076 and 3.706*10-16, respectively. According to the plate compression test, the mangosteens have not reached the bioyield point when the forces were not exceeded 10 N forces.
ศูนย์ฯขอนแก่นเปิดให้บริการวิเคราะห์พืชอาหารสัตว์ และเมล็ดพันธุ์ฯ
ศูนย์วิจัยและพัฒนาอาหารสัตว์ขอนแก่นได้เปิดบริการตรวจวิเคราะห์พืชอาหารสัตว์ และเมล็ดพันธุ์พืชอาหารสัตว์ โดยวิเคราะห์หาโปรตีน ความชื้น และเยื่อใยด้วยเครื่อง NIRS (Near Infrared Spectrometer) ให้กับเกษตรกร และบุคคลอื่นทั่วไป ซึ่งสามารถทราบผลวิเคราะห์ได้เร็วที่สุดภายใน 24 ชั่วโมงผู้สนใจสามารถติดต่อสอบถาม เพื่อขอรับบริการได้ที่ศูนย์วิจัยและพัฒนาอาหารสัตว์ขอนแก่น ต.ท่าพระ อ.เมือง จ.ขอนแก่น 40260 โทร. และโทรสาร 043-261087 Email: nckk_kkn@dld.go.th
NONDESTRUCTIVE MEASURING METHOD FOR RIPENESS OR UNRIPENESS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE BY USING SUNLIGHT AND DEVICE FOR THE METHOD
PURPOSE: TO SIMPLY AND RELIABLY JUDGE RIPENESS OR UNRIPENESS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WHEN THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES GROWING IN A PLOWED FIELD ARE REAPED BY FINDING THE INTENSITY RATIO OF NEAR INFRARED TWO SPECIFIC WAVE LENGTH COMPONENTS CONTAINED IN THE TRANSMITTED LIGHT OF ITS SUNLIGHT IN THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EMITTED BY THE SUNLIGHT.
CONSTITUTION: THE SUNLIGHT SCATTERED BY SARCOCARP BY PASSING THROUGH THE RIND OF A FRUIT COMES TO HAVE SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS BASED ON QUALITY INFORMATION ON SARCOCARP DUE TO AN INTEGRATING SPHERE EFFECT BY THE RIND OF THE FRUIT, AND IS RERADIATED TO AN EXTERNAL SPACE WITH ALMOST UNIFORM INTENSITY FROM THE WHOLE SURFACE OF THE RIND OF THE FRUIT. THEN, A LIGHT CONDENSING PART 2 IS PUSHED AGAINST SURFACES OF MEASURING OBJECT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 1 EMITTED BY THE SUNLIGHT, AND THE TRANSMITTED LIGHT OF THE SUNLIGHT IS TAKEN OUT. THE TAKEN-OUT TRANSMITTED LIGHT IS TAKEN OUT AS NEAR INFRARED TWO WAVE LENGTH COMPONENTS BY SPECTRAL FILTERS 3 AND 3A, AND IS CONVERTED INTO TWO ELECTRIC SIGNALS BY PHOTO-DETECTORS 4 AND 4A. ITS TWO ELECTRIC SIGNALS ARE AMPLIFIED BY VARIABLE GAIN AMPLIFIERS 5 AND 5A, AND ARE INPUTTED TO AN OUTPUT INDICATING PART 6, AND THE OUTPUT INTENSITY RATIO OF THE ELECTRIC SIGNALS IS CALCULATED BY A COMPARATOR, AND IS DISPLAYED ON A DISPLAY UNIT.
CONSTITUTION: THE SUNLIGHT SCATTERED BY SARCOCARP BY PASSING THROUGH THE RIND OF A FRUIT COMES TO HAVE SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS BASED ON QUALITY INFORMATION ON SARCOCARP DUE TO AN INTEGRATING SPHERE EFFECT BY THE RIND OF THE FRUIT, AND IS RERADIATED TO AN EXTERNAL SPACE WITH ALMOST UNIFORM INTENSITY FROM THE WHOLE SURFACE OF THE RIND OF THE FRUIT. THEN, A LIGHT CONDENSING PART 2 IS PUSHED AGAINST SURFACES OF MEASURING OBJECT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 1 EMITTED BY THE SUNLIGHT, AND THE TRANSMITTED LIGHT OF THE SUNLIGHT IS TAKEN OUT. THE TAKEN-OUT TRANSMITTED LIGHT IS TAKEN OUT AS NEAR INFRARED TWO WAVE LENGTH COMPONENTS BY SPECTRAL FILTERS 3 AND 3A, AND IS CONVERTED INTO TWO ELECTRIC SIGNALS BY PHOTO-DETECTORS 4 AND 4A. ITS TWO ELECTRIC SIGNALS ARE AMPLIFIED BY VARIABLE GAIN AMPLIFIERS 5 AND 5A, AND ARE INPUTTED TO AN OUTPUT INDICATING PART 6, AND THE OUTPUT INTENSITY RATIO OF THE ELECTRIC SIGNALS IS CALCULATED BY A COMPARATOR, AND IS DISPLAYED ON A DISPLAY UNIT.
8/1/08
Near Infrared Spectroscopy Helps in the Fight Against Counterfeit Drugs
NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, 07/30/2008 - Counterfeit medicines can be identified rapidly and precisely using a portable near infrared analyser and a technique developed by scientists at the School of Pharmacy, University of London.
The counterfeiting of medicines has been known of since around 1990 and is a growing problem—in both developing and developed countries. Counterfeit medicines are estimated as more than 10% of the global medicines market and in some developing countries it is thought to be as high as 50%. One prediction is that global counterfeit drug sales will reach $75 billion by 2010.Counterfeiting can apply to both branded and generic products, with counterfeit products including drugs with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients; without active ingredients, with insufficient active ingredient or with fake packaging. The increased occurrence of counterfeit medicines has several serious consequences. These may include illness or death of patients, higher medical insurance and lost revenues to pharmaceutical manufacturers and governments. Children are particularly at risk. Diminished public confidence in both health care providers and the medicines supply chain could indirectly lead to increased illness (as a result of non-adherence) which would strain health care services. Damage to a brand’s credibility could tarnish a manufacturer’s reputation, not to forget the substantial loss of revenues.The recent discovery of counterfeit medicines in the UK supply chain prompted Professor Moffat, Dr O’Neil and their colleagues at the Centre for Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, to develop a rapid, precise and portable analytical technique for in-field use. Working with samples provided by the Korean Food and Drugs Agency and a portable transmittance near infrared (NIR) spectrometer developed by NIR Technology Systems they have the answer to identifying counterfeits where they choose. This ability to replace laboratory analysis with the use of a portable instrument at the point of sampling is an attractive option for regulatory authorities. Furthermore, the NIR technique is rapid, precise, non-destructive and costs very little to operate.Their findings have been published in the latest edition* of the Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy. “Near infrared spectroscopy is a scientific tool which has helped us understand the differences between genuine and counterfeit drugs, even those which look exactly the same to the naked eye,” Professor Moffat said.As well as being able to identify counterfeit from genuine tablets, the chemical information provided by NIR spectroscopy helps identify the likely origin of the tablet. Thus law enforcement agencies obtain valuable information about the laboratories manufacturing counterfeit medicines.The present paper was presented at the 13th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Umeå, Sweden. Professor Moffat, together with his students and collaborators, are also developing the technique of NIR spectroscopy for the quality assurance of medicines and to ensure that manufacturing methods are efficient and effective. “Our studies also have relevance to the formulation development of new medicines to make sure that patients get the right drug at the right amount at the right time”, said Professor Moffat.*A.J. O'Neil, R.D. Jee, G. Lee, A. Charvill and A.C. Moffat, “Use of a portable NIR spectrometer for the authentication of tablets and the detection of counterfeit versions”, J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 16(3), 327–333 (2008), doi: 10.1255/jnirs.796About Journal of Near Infrared SpectroscopyThe Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (JNIRS) is a peer review journal published by IM Publications. It publishes high-quality, original research papers on all aspects of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and technology. NIR spectroscopy is used widely in the food and agriculture, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, and is finding increasing applications in other areas including medicine and the environment.For more information about the research, please contact:Professor Moffat, Centre For Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK. P: 01954 782366, 07717-520667 (mobile), E: tony.moffat[.]pharmacy.ac.uk.
The counterfeiting of medicines has been known of since around 1990 and is a growing problem—in both developing and developed countries. Counterfeit medicines are estimated as more than 10% of the global medicines market and in some developing countries it is thought to be as high as 50%. One prediction is that global counterfeit drug sales will reach $75 billion by 2010.Counterfeiting can apply to both branded and generic products, with counterfeit products including drugs with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients; without active ingredients, with insufficient active ingredient or with fake packaging. The increased occurrence of counterfeit medicines has several serious consequences. These may include illness or death of patients, higher medical insurance and lost revenues to pharmaceutical manufacturers and governments. Children are particularly at risk. Diminished public confidence in both health care providers and the medicines supply chain could indirectly lead to increased illness (as a result of non-adherence) which would strain health care services. Damage to a brand’s credibility could tarnish a manufacturer’s reputation, not to forget the substantial loss of revenues.The recent discovery of counterfeit medicines in the UK supply chain prompted Professor Moffat, Dr O’Neil and their colleagues at the Centre for Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, to develop a rapid, precise and portable analytical technique for in-field use. Working with samples provided by the Korean Food and Drugs Agency and a portable transmittance near infrared (NIR) spectrometer developed by NIR Technology Systems they have the answer to identifying counterfeits where they choose. This ability to replace laboratory analysis with the use of a portable instrument at the point of sampling is an attractive option for regulatory authorities. Furthermore, the NIR technique is rapid, precise, non-destructive and costs very little to operate.Their findings have been published in the latest edition* of the Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy. “Near infrared spectroscopy is a scientific tool which has helped us understand the differences between genuine and counterfeit drugs, even those which look exactly the same to the naked eye,” Professor Moffat said.As well as being able to identify counterfeit from genuine tablets, the chemical information provided by NIR spectroscopy helps identify the likely origin of the tablet. Thus law enforcement agencies obtain valuable information about the laboratories manufacturing counterfeit medicines.The present paper was presented at the 13th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Umeå, Sweden. Professor Moffat, together with his students and collaborators, are also developing the technique of NIR spectroscopy for the quality assurance of medicines and to ensure that manufacturing methods are efficient and effective. “Our studies also have relevance to the formulation development of new medicines to make sure that patients get the right drug at the right amount at the right time”, said Professor Moffat.*A.J. O'Neil, R.D. Jee, G. Lee, A. Charvill and A.C. Moffat, “Use of a portable NIR spectrometer for the authentication of tablets and the detection of counterfeit versions”, J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 16(3), 327–333 (2008), doi: 10.1255/jnirs.796About Journal of Near Infrared SpectroscopyThe Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (JNIRS) is a peer review journal published by IM Publications. It publishes high-quality, original research papers on all aspects of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and technology. NIR spectroscopy is used widely in the food and agriculture, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, and is finding increasing applications in other areas including medicine and the environment.For more information about the research, please contact:Professor Moffat, Centre For Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK. P: 01954 782366, 07717-520667 (mobile), E: tony.moffat[.]pharmacy.ac.uk.
Pet Food Ingredients Under the Microscope
Posted by petfoodsafety on July 30, 2008
Ingredients under the microscope
Laboratories discuss ingredient testing worldwide
With the recent recall of pet foods fresh on the mind of the industry, pet food safety testing is a topic of interest to just about everyone involved in petfood production. Petfood Industry asked several analytical laboratories their opinion on the top safety issues today inpet food production. We also asked them to give us some insight into the most current testing technologies available.
According to Lars Reimann, chief scientific officer for Eurofins Scientific Inc., three main groups of top ingredient safety issues face petfood manufacturers today. These issues are:
Adulteration/mislabeling (GMOs, diluting more expensive products with less expensive products, natural/organic versus regular products);
Known toxic residues (allergens, heavy metals, pesticides, drug residues, dioxins, microbial contamination); and
Unknown residues (melamine, acetaminophen, bioterrorism toxins, unknown toxic by-products formed during the manufacturing process such as heat-generated toxins like acrylamide, benzene, furans and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol).
Global sourcing expands the issues
Reimann notes that the challenge to the industry is to ensure that the ingredients/products it buys at a good price are sufficiently safe for their intended use. Global sourcing has expanded the issues that need to be considered, as well as reduced the responsibility/trust factor between buyer and seller. However, technologies have also evolved that allow regulators and others to test for an ever-increasing number of residues present with increasingly lower detection limits. The real challenge is to educate the consumer, regulators and the industry itself on what constitutes “real” hazards versus “perceived” hazards, he says.
Reimann believes there are improvements continuously being made on the analytics front. “However, the scope of compounds of concern seems to grow as fast (or faster) than the improvements in analytical instrumentation and processes,” he says.
France and Germany: similar/different issues
Outside the US, perception of the top pet food safety issues facing manufacturers differs slightly. Michele Lees of Eurofins in France notes that the most pressing issues include adulteration of pet food ingredients; external contaminants; accidental contamination from dioxins, etc.; naturally occurring contaminants (or contaminants formed from nontoxic ingredients); mycotoxins; and toxic chemicals formed by reaction of nontoxic ingredients (benzene, furan).
Knowing what tolerance levels exist is important.Dr. John RichardAnalytical companies continue to improve turnaround times.
According to Werner Nader of Eurofins in Germany, ingredient scandals in the feed industry over the past decade have shadowed the petfood industry in that country. Genetically modified ingredients (a politically charged issue in Europe) in petfood are also quite commonly seen due to cross-contamination at the supplier. Because of the common supply chain for ingredients for feed and petfood, strict controls on the supply side have to be maintained, he says.
Mycotoxins still play a role
Dr. John Richard, a consultant for Romer Labs, sees mycotoxins as a major concern for most pet food manufacturers across the country and internationally. He notes that most petfood companies test for aflatoxins; however, most of them test every ingredient, and that is not necessary as aflatoxins do not occur in all ingredients. “Therefore, many companies are wasting money testing for these mycotoxins,” he says.
Knowing what tolerance levels exist is important, and guidance is available from the US Food and Drug Administration for the major mycotoxins relative to levels of concern in petfood. “Regarding mycotoxin testing, I encourage companies to put some on the suppliers of the ingredients to test and certify that the ingredient contains no detectable, or at least acceptable (at or below the tolerance levels), levels of specified mycotoxins,” he notes.
Richard indicates that there are many studies ongoing at present to reduce the levels of mycotoxin contamination in the field. These are most specifically pointed at reducing the levels of aflatoxins in commodities through genetic means (biocontrol and breeding). There are some very rapid, accurate and reliable tests on the market today that allow for testing of a number of mycotoxins within a few minutes, he says.
There are new tests being developed all the time by test kit manufacturers and the effort is to make them as fast as possible but not lose accuracy and reliability, according to Richard. The most recent developments in tests for mycotoxins include lateral flow tests. These tests are rapid and most are semi-quantitative, whereby a cutoff value is associated with the test and running the test on a sample will tell you if it is above or below that cutoff level, he notes.
Monitoring quality is an ongoing process
Patricia Jackson, business development manager, diagnostics for VICAM, realizes that in today’s global marketplace, ingredient suppliers face the challenge of providing a consistent and traceable supply of ingredients that will meet the standards of a diverse market. She says that petfood manufacturers do a “fantastic job of monitoring the quality of their ingredients and finished products,” so the most likely source of safety issues could be from unexpected or unintended components added to an ingredient prior to its delivery.
New technologies and new applications for existing technologies are rising to meet the need for more comprehensive screening of raw ingredients, according to Jackson. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), the electronic nose and high-performance liquid chromatography (with mass spectrometry for increased sensitivity and specificity) are just a few she mentions. Each of these technologies offers advantages in detecting undesirable or foreign components in a feed ingredient. In addition, rapid technologies make it possible to screen ingredients as they arrive at the plant.
Audit programs are key
Dr. Scott Brooks, chief operating officer for Food Safety Net Services, recognizes that robust quality assurance programs to verify the quality and safety of ingredients are of critical importance in the safety of petfoods. According to Brooks, these programs, if executed with skill, address ingredient safety issues systematically rather than attempting to tackle individual issues (e.g., melamine). “Petfood companies need to ensure microbial, chemical and physical specifications are set for all ingredients and establish a program to monitor incoming ingredient quality. The programs should include requirements for certificates of analysis with incoming shipments and, importantly, a sampling and testing program to verify critical specification parameters,” he says.
Analytical companies continue to improve turnaround times for results for both chemical and microbial contaminants, according to Brooks. Gene-based assays for microbes are speeding results and will improve with development of DNA microarrays and benefit from growth of nanotechnology applications. In addition to advanced instrumentation capabilities, lateral flow tests will continue to be developed to provide practical, rapid screening for chemical and microbial contaminants, he notes.
Ingredients under the microscope
Laboratories discuss ingredient testing worldwide
With the recent recall of pet foods fresh on the mind of the industry, pet food safety testing is a topic of interest to just about everyone involved in petfood production. Petfood Industry asked several analytical laboratories their opinion on the top safety issues today inpet food production. We also asked them to give us some insight into the most current testing technologies available.
According to Lars Reimann, chief scientific officer for Eurofins Scientific Inc., three main groups of top ingredient safety issues face petfood manufacturers today. These issues are:
Adulteration/mislabeling (GMOs, diluting more expensive products with less expensive products, natural/organic versus regular products);
Known toxic residues (allergens, heavy metals, pesticides, drug residues, dioxins, microbial contamination); and
Unknown residues (melamine, acetaminophen, bioterrorism toxins, unknown toxic by-products formed during the manufacturing process such as heat-generated toxins like acrylamide, benzene, furans and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol).
Global sourcing expands the issues
Reimann notes that the challenge to the industry is to ensure that the ingredients/products it buys at a good price are sufficiently safe for their intended use. Global sourcing has expanded the issues that need to be considered, as well as reduced the responsibility/trust factor between buyer and seller. However, technologies have also evolved that allow regulators and others to test for an ever-increasing number of residues present with increasingly lower detection limits. The real challenge is to educate the consumer, regulators and the industry itself on what constitutes “real” hazards versus “perceived” hazards, he says.
Reimann believes there are improvements continuously being made on the analytics front. “However, the scope of compounds of concern seems to grow as fast (or faster) than the improvements in analytical instrumentation and processes,” he says.
France and Germany: similar/different issues
Outside the US, perception of the top pet food safety issues facing manufacturers differs slightly. Michele Lees of Eurofins in France notes that the most pressing issues include adulteration of pet food ingredients; external contaminants; accidental contamination from dioxins, etc.; naturally occurring contaminants (or contaminants formed from nontoxic ingredients); mycotoxins; and toxic chemicals formed by reaction of nontoxic ingredients (benzene, furan).
Knowing what tolerance levels exist is important.Dr. John RichardAnalytical companies continue to improve turnaround times.
According to Werner Nader of Eurofins in Germany, ingredient scandals in the feed industry over the past decade have shadowed the petfood industry in that country. Genetically modified ingredients (a politically charged issue in Europe) in petfood are also quite commonly seen due to cross-contamination at the supplier. Because of the common supply chain for ingredients for feed and petfood, strict controls on the supply side have to be maintained, he says.
Mycotoxins still play a role
Dr. John Richard, a consultant for Romer Labs, sees mycotoxins as a major concern for most pet food manufacturers across the country and internationally. He notes that most petfood companies test for aflatoxins; however, most of them test every ingredient, and that is not necessary as aflatoxins do not occur in all ingredients. “Therefore, many companies are wasting money testing for these mycotoxins,” he says.
Knowing what tolerance levels exist is important, and guidance is available from the US Food and Drug Administration for the major mycotoxins relative to levels of concern in petfood. “Regarding mycotoxin testing, I encourage companies to put some on the suppliers of the ingredients to test and certify that the ingredient contains no detectable, or at least acceptable (at or below the tolerance levels), levels of specified mycotoxins,” he notes.
Richard indicates that there are many studies ongoing at present to reduce the levels of mycotoxin contamination in the field. These are most specifically pointed at reducing the levels of aflatoxins in commodities through genetic means (biocontrol and breeding). There are some very rapid, accurate and reliable tests on the market today that allow for testing of a number of mycotoxins within a few minutes, he says.
There are new tests being developed all the time by test kit manufacturers and the effort is to make them as fast as possible but not lose accuracy and reliability, according to Richard. The most recent developments in tests for mycotoxins include lateral flow tests. These tests are rapid and most are semi-quantitative, whereby a cutoff value is associated with the test and running the test on a sample will tell you if it is above or below that cutoff level, he notes.
Monitoring quality is an ongoing process
Patricia Jackson, business development manager, diagnostics for VICAM, realizes that in today’s global marketplace, ingredient suppliers face the challenge of providing a consistent and traceable supply of ingredients that will meet the standards of a diverse market. She says that petfood manufacturers do a “fantastic job of monitoring the quality of their ingredients and finished products,” so the most likely source of safety issues could be from unexpected or unintended components added to an ingredient prior to its delivery.
New technologies and new applications for existing technologies are rising to meet the need for more comprehensive screening of raw ingredients, according to Jackson. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), the electronic nose and high-performance liquid chromatography (with mass spectrometry for increased sensitivity and specificity) are just a few she mentions. Each of these technologies offers advantages in detecting undesirable or foreign components in a feed ingredient. In addition, rapid technologies make it possible to screen ingredients as they arrive at the plant.
Audit programs are key
Dr. Scott Brooks, chief operating officer for Food Safety Net Services, recognizes that robust quality assurance programs to verify the quality and safety of ingredients are of critical importance in the safety of petfoods. According to Brooks, these programs, if executed with skill, address ingredient safety issues systematically rather than attempting to tackle individual issues (e.g., melamine). “Petfood companies need to ensure microbial, chemical and physical specifications are set for all ingredients and establish a program to monitor incoming ingredient quality. The programs should include requirements for certificates of analysis with incoming shipments and, importantly, a sampling and testing program to verify critical specification parameters,” he says.
Analytical companies continue to improve turnaround times for results for both chemical and microbial contaminants, according to Brooks. Gene-based assays for microbes are speeding results and will improve with development of DNA microarrays and benefit from growth of nanotechnology applications. In addition to advanced instrumentation capabilities, lateral flow tests will continue to be developed to provide practical, rapid screening for chemical and microbial contaminants, he notes.
A Counter To Counterfeit Drugs
ScienceDaily (July 31, 2008) — The counterfeiting of medicines has been known of since around 1990 and is a growing problem—in both developing and developed countries. Counterfeit medicines are estimated as more than 10% of the global medicines market and in some developing countries it is thought to be as high as 50%. One prediction is that global counterfeit drug sales will reach $75 billion by 2010.
Counterfeiting can apply to both branded and generic products, with counterfeit products including drugs with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients; without active ingredients, with insufficient active ingredient or with fake packaging. The increased occurrence of counterfeit medicines has several serious consequences. These may include illness or death of patients, higher medical insurance and lost revenues to pharmaceutical manufacturers and governments. Children are particularly at risk. Diminished public confidence in both health care providers and the medicines supply chain could indirectly lead to increased illness (as a result of non-adherence) which would strain health care services. Damage to a brand’s credibility could tarnish a manufacturer’s reputation, not to forget the substantial loss of revenues.
The recent discovery of counterfeit medicines in the UK supply chain prompted Professor Moffat, Dr O’Neil and their colleagues at the Centre for Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, to develop a rapid, precise and portable analytical technique for in-field use. Working with samples provided by the Korean Food and Drugs Agency and a portable transmittance near infrared (NIR) spectrometer developed by NIR Technology Systems they have the answer to identifying counterfeits where they choose. This ability to replace laboratory analysis with the use of a portable instrument at the point of sampling is an attractive option for regulatory authorities. Furthermore, the NIR technique is rapid, precise, non-destructive and costs very little to operate.
Their findings have been published in the latest edition of the Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy. “Near infrared spectroscopy is a scientific tool which has helped us understand the differences between genuine and counterfeit drugs, even those which look exactly the same to the naked eye,” Professor Moffat said.
As well as being able to identify counterfeit from genuine tablets, the chemical information provided by NIR spectroscopy helps identify the likely origin of the tablet. Thus law enforcement agencies obtain valuable information about the laboratories manufacturing counterfeit medicines.
The present paper was presented at the 13th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Umeå, Sweden. Professor Moffat, together with his students and collaborators, are also developing the technique of NIR spectroscopy for the quality assurance of medicines and to ensure that manufacturing methods are efficient and effective. “Our studies also have relevance to the formulation development of new medicines to make sure that patients get the right drug at the right amount at the right time”, said Professor Moffat.
Counterfeiting can apply to both branded and generic products, with counterfeit products including drugs with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients; without active ingredients, with insufficient active ingredient or with fake packaging. The increased occurrence of counterfeit medicines has several serious consequences. These may include illness or death of patients, higher medical insurance and lost revenues to pharmaceutical manufacturers and governments. Children are particularly at risk. Diminished public confidence in both health care providers and the medicines supply chain could indirectly lead to increased illness (as a result of non-adherence) which would strain health care services. Damage to a brand’s credibility could tarnish a manufacturer’s reputation, not to forget the substantial loss of revenues.
The recent discovery of counterfeit medicines in the UK supply chain prompted Professor Moffat, Dr O’Neil and their colleagues at the Centre for Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, to develop a rapid, precise and portable analytical technique for in-field use. Working with samples provided by the Korean Food and Drugs Agency and a portable transmittance near infrared (NIR) spectrometer developed by NIR Technology Systems they have the answer to identifying counterfeits where they choose. This ability to replace laboratory analysis with the use of a portable instrument at the point of sampling is an attractive option for regulatory authorities. Furthermore, the NIR technique is rapid, precise, non-destructive and costs very little to operate.
Their findings have been published in the latest edition of the Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy. “Near infrared spectroscopy is a scientific tool which has helped us understand the differences between genuine and counterfeit drugs, even those which look exactly the same to the naked eye,” Professor Moffat said.
As well as being able to identify counterfeit from genuine tablets, the chemical information provided by NIR spectroscopy helps identify the likely origin of the tablet. Thus law enforcement agencies obtain valuable information about the laboratories manufacturing counterfeit medicines.
The present paper was presented at the 13th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Umeå, Sweden. Professor Moffat, together with his students and collaborators, are also developing the technique of NIR spectroscopy for the quality assurance of medicines and to ensure that manufacturing methods are efficient and effective. “Our studies also have relevance to the formulation development of new medicines to make sure that patients get the right drug at the right amount at the right time”, said Professor Moffat.