dispatches from Analytica 2016
Bruker works with Unilever to analyse droplet size distribution
Using Bruker’s Time Domain (TD-) NMR minispec technology it analyses droplet size distribution in margarine, low-fat spreads, butter and mayonnaise, salad dressing and soft cheeses.
The ‘minspec G-Var’ method is up to four times faster, provides a lower limit of quantifiable droplet phase (down to 2%) and can measure smaller droplet sizes (oil droplets 0.5-10µm; water droplets 1-30µm) then the former ‘minispec D-Var’ method.
It is Unilever‘s standard method for droplet size distribution measurements in spreads and dressings.
TD-NMR analysis
Unlike conventional techniques as light microscopy, laser light scattering or electric sensing, TD-NMR requires minimum sample preparation and no dilution, according to Bruker.
It is faster than light microscopy, is not limited to only oil in water emulsions as laser light scattering and is more precise than electrical sensing, said the firm.
Droplet size distribution in emulsions of water in oil (and oil in water) can influence the taste, smell, appearance and microbial stability (shelf life) of foods.
Other applications of the quantitative TD-NMR method include solid fat content (SFC) determination, total fat content in chocolate and total fat and moisture content in chips, milk powder and snacks.
Bruker also unveiled a total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometer for ultra-trace element analysis in application fields including pharma and food.
The S4 TStar was designed to meet the growing demand in increasingly regulated areas, such as detection of metal contamination or monitoring of catalyzer elements in pharmaceutical production according to the EU and US Pharmacopeia standards and new product development and quality control in the food industry, including traceability and verification of raw materials in globalized supply chains.
It features up to three different X-ray excitation modes and a large area XFlash silicon drift detector (SDD) to ensure low limits of detection.
The automatic sample changer offers a capacity of up to ninety samples which can be loaded using up to ten sample trays.
Dr Armin Gross, product manager TXRF at Bruker’s Nano Analytics Division, said: “With the significant improvements in detection limits, combined with automatic QC routines, powerful software options, and the unique versatility in terms of sample types and carriers, the S4 TStar sets new standards in performance, automation and quality of benchtop TXRF spectrometry and can be considered an efficient complement, or a real alternative, to ICP-MS.”
FoodScreener update
Meanwhile, Famille Michaud Apiculteurs has become the first honey-packer to adopt the new Honey Profiling module of the NMR FoodScreener.
The firm can increase the scope of analysis, while reducing the time from two days to just 20 minutes, to reduce production lead-times and total costs and protect premier honey brands, said Bruker.
Eurofins Scientific Group and the Bruker-led Honey Consortium with QSI and ALNuMed will harmonize their NMR honey profiling models and are collaborating on the release of a unified update of the Honey Profiling module.
The latest update of the Wine Profiling module of the NMR FoodScreener now covers wines from France, Italy and Spain, so they can be authenticated.
