Food Analysis controller using Infrared Sensor

High incidence of aflatoxins contamination has been reported in milk and milk products in Pakistan. This can be a huge threat to consumer health; moreover, controlling strategies cannot be effective because the detection methods are expensive and time consuming. This study is proposed to design a ra

Project Title

Food Analysis controller using Infrared Sensor

Project Area of Specialization

Shared Economy

Project Summary

High incidence of aflatoxins contamination has been reported in milk and milk products in Pakistan. This can be a huge threat to consumer health; moreover, controlling strategies cannot be effective because the detection methods are expensive and time consuming. This study is proposed to design a rapid detection device for aflatoxins determination in food commodities especially milk. The main objective of present research is to develop a prototype which can rapidly detect aflatoxins in the food products.  A biosensor is a device that can sense a biological change and forward this information an analog signal to the analog to digital converter for conversion in to digital code. The microprocessor or microcontroller receive this information and allow digital signal processing algorithm for further processing. There are several type of the biosensors like calorimetric biosensor, potentiometric biosensor, amperometric biosensor, optical biosensor piezo-electric biosensor and resonant biosensor, Ion sensitive biosensor and electrochemical biosensor. There is great use of biosensor for agricultural and food industry. Detection of viral, fungal, bacterial diseases of plants. In food industry, its possible to detect total microbes and food quantification in soft drinks. To determine the freshness of fish, beef and other food items. It makes bacteria glow by optical sensor. A spectrometer is a scientific device that used to split light into an array of separate colors, called spectrum. The spectrometers were developed in early studies of physics, astronomy, and chemistry. The spectroscopy determines the chemical composition. Typically, spectrometers used to analyze the chemical structures of stars and planets. Due to advancement in technology portable spectrometer are available in the industry, which have built, in 16-bit analog to digital converter. The output of this spectrometer is digital and can used by the microprocessor for further processing. The low power Bluetooth can communicate with microprocessor and share this data with the smartphone. An app can be developed on the smartphone side to received data and arrange it accordingly. It is also possible to select some choices from the smartphone for the front-end sensor operation. In Pakistan the food industry, really need this type of devices to ease the mechanism of quality control. This proposed infrared-based (IR) prototype can be very useful for home use or food industry due to its quality of without touching the food it can monitor and tell about the quality of food. The main target is milk and other food product.

Project Objectives

1. To validate the potential of IR based sensor for aflatoxins.
2. To optimize the device for quantification of aflatoxins detection in foods.
3. To make device portable and economical
4. Human resource development in the field of biosensors

Aflatoxins contamination in food product is affecting our country in term higher disease burden and rejection of export. The high level of contamination in food and water

The expected output of this project is a market ready product for aflatoxin detection from food products. The current detection strategy involves a time-consuming procedure could be carried out at well-equipped laboratories. Moreover, qualitative detection facilities are very few in the countries that cost very high.

The one of main goal is to make is portable device an economical therefore could be used by consumer at time purchase and even at food outlets to monitor aflatoxins level in foods.

Project Implementation Method

Task 1.1 Literature review regarding the infrared spectroscopy sensor, which is process to check the interaction of radiation with matter. This will be used to analyze the chemical and respond. The sample information can be in the shape of solid, gas, or liquid. The infrared spectrometer used to produce the infrared spectrum. This spectrum can have infrared light absorbance or transmittance on the vertical axis while on the horizontal axis has frequency or wavelength.

Task 1.2  The IR sensor understanding .

In the industry, there are various IR optical sensor kit. It provides the quick start up approach to spectral sensing. There are three different types of spectral sensors AS7261, AS7262, AS7263 with different feature. The first one is AS7261, which is chromatic white color XYZ sensor plus near infrared with capability of electronics shutter. It also includes the feature of smart interface. It provides direct coordinate for XYZ. Basically it maps the XYZ coordinates to the x,y (Y) of the two-dimensional color gamut.

Task 1.3 Working with IR sensor features to verify the identification of the different chemical contamination in the milk or other food products according to spectral detection mechanism. The front-end sensor has range of wavelengths (450nm, 500nm, 550nm, 570nm, 600nm, 650nm each with 40nm FWHM) six visible channels. It also includes 16-bit ADC to provide digital output to ease further interfacing with glue logic.

Task 1.4 Interfacing the IR sensor with Microcontroller for full automation features, the value generated by the ADC needs to be stored in the memory, while microcontroller will provide full control features. It is recommended to connect memory storage with spectrometer. The size of the interface need to be large to store large amount of data as captured from input.  

Task 1.5 Programming the Embedded Microcontroller using on-chip and off-chip memory.

   The data received from the spectrometer requires special operation or for further processing the microprocessor or microcontroller is the best suitable building blocks. It is important to select a microprocessor, which is compact, and have embedded application. The optical data requires high precision arithmetic unit with RISC register. Typically, it is recommended to select RISC structure with instruction model, which is easy for programming and easy to understand.

Task 1.6 Validation of specific contamination detection by IR based Prototype

Fresh milk and other food products will be spiked with different concentrations of AFM1, AFB1 and FTIR will be used to detect the concentration of aflatoxins in spiked samples as compared to control (Kaya-Celiker et al., 2011).

Benefits of the Project

• State-of-the-Art IR sensors prototype will be designed to sense chemical like Aflatoxins in the food and milk products.
• Food contamination is a big burden on economy in terms of medical care cost of animal and human health. Screening of food and feed for toxins will help to stop mal practices, ultimately reduce disease burden and the cost of treatment.
• The suggested strategy will provide a cheaper and user-friendly way to monitor aflatoxin contamination in milk and other food products.

• Experienced personnel can give consultancy to the students, workers and trainees, to work more effectively in industry.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Agriculture is backbone of the economy in Pakistan. This project will give a cheaper, toxin detection strategy in milk or other food item in order to provide safer milk for local usage and export purposes. The research experience gained by scientific staff and students will be human resource in this area and will serve at various levels in the country.

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Type of Industry

Food

Technologies

Shared Economy

Sustainable Development Goals

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Required Resources

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