Abstract:
A sampling and filtering device having a circular chamber 14 and a wing 20 for rotating the fluid in the chamber, an inlet in the centre of the chamber, and a first outlet to waste at the periphery of the chamber, a woven filter 24, securely fastened between the rims of a filter housing and a removable wall and supported by a grooved collector plate forming the removable wall 40 in the filter housing 14. The inlet and outlet are controlled by valves (16, 18), so that the filter chamber 14, the wing 20, the open inlet, and open outlet may function as a centrifugal pump. The filter 24 is cleaned by the rotating wing 20. The device enables a fast extraction of a series of samples from grape juices provided from different batches or truck-loads of grapes during the grape harvest.
Abstract:
A method is suggested for obtaining information on the electromagnetic spectrum of a sample, the method comprising (a) generating a plurality of substantially identical signals, (b) determining the shape of a first number of the signals by performing a first number of scans of a first range of signal width, (c) determining the shape of a second number of the signals by performing a second number of scans of a second range of signal width, the second range being comprised by the first range and comprising a portion of the first range in which the signals have maximum absolute amplitude, (d) combining data from the first number of scans and the second number of scans so as to obtain data corresponding to the shape of the signals, and (e) performing a mathematical transformation of the combined data so as to obtain the information on the electromagnetic spectrum of the sample. According to this method, the electromagnetic spectrum - and especially an absorption spectrum for use in quantitative analysis of the sample - may be obtained faster than is possible using prior art methods.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for conditioning samples (of e.g. milk or meat) containing fat globules and somatic cells and/or protein particles before they are subjected to fluorescence measurements in order to determine the bacterial content, as well as methods for performing the determination of bacterial content in such samples. The conditioning method involves the treatment of the samples with a ion-chelating agent, a proteolytic enzyme, a detergent, and a bacteriologically specific fluorochrome such as ethidium bromide. Detergent is used in a concentration resulting in substantially no dissolution of the fat globules and the conditioned samples thus loses insignificant amounts of fat globules. The assessment of fluorescence is preferably performed in a conventional flow cytometer. As no separation of fat globules is necessary, the methods are simple and fast. The bacterial determinations have proved reliable when compared to standard methods.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an on-line method and a flow system as well as a cuvette for carrying out IR spectrometry for analysis of liquid food products, possibly containing dissolved gases, in a process line in a liquid food product processing plant, especially a dairy processing milk and milk products. A liquid sample is extracted from the process line to a measuring branch, the sample is thermostated and passed to a measurement cuvette. The IR-absorbance spectrum is measured, e.g. in the MID-IR or NIR-range. In order to obtain an on-line monitoring of the process line the liquid food sample is extracted directly from the process line into the measurement branch, in which the pressure is maintained at least as high as in the adjacent process line. The high pressure ensures that dissolved air will stay dissolved in the liquid food. Before each new sample the measurement branch and cuvette are flushed by high flow rates with a part of the new sample to clean the cuvette. The measurement cuvette has strong windows, preferably diamond windows to stand a high pressure and high flow rates. The on-line system is arranged to carry out e.g. 120 measurements per hour.
Abstract:
An interferometer for Fourier spectroscopy, wherein the interferometer comprises a beamsplitter (14) and two retroreflectors (20, 26), characterized in that the beamsplitter (14) is mounted movably, e.g., mounted pivotally or displacably, while both retroreflectors (20, 26) are arranged as fixed retroreflectors. The proposed structure is simple to produce, can be made substantially insensible to environmental vibrations, and it is well suited for routine measurements for the determination of quantities of predefined components in a medium. The interferometer is particularly intended for measurements in the mid- or near-infrared range for determination of the quantities of specified components in a medium, and more specifically in a food product, e.g., a liquid such as milk.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the number of particles or cells in a liquid sample. The method comprises: a) determining the number of particles or cells in a first volume of the liquid sample, b) determining the statistical uncertainty of the determined number of particles in said first volume, c) if the determined uncertainty is larger than a predetermined value, determining the number of particles or cells in a further volume of the liquid sample, d) adding the numbers of cells or particles determined in steps a) and c), e) determining the statistical uncertainty of the number of particles determined in step d), f) repeating steps d) and e) with a further volume of the liquid sample, until the uncertainty determined in step e) is lower than said predetermined value or until a predetermined total volume of the liquid sample in which the number of cells or particles has been determined exceeds a predetermined volume being larger than said first volume. In this way, the volume examined and the uncertainty of the measurement may be selected so that a suitable compromise between the uncertainty and the time required to perform the measurement can be obtained. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a liquid flow system allowing the measurement sequence to be interrupted as soon as the calculating means decide that the uncertainty of the actual cell count is small enough to rely on the present determination. The apparatus will then be ready to carry on with the next sample, thereby maintaining a high capacity while obtaining reliable cell counts.
Abstract translation:一种用于确定液体样品中的颗粒或细胞数量的方法和装置。 该方法包括:a)确定液体样品的第一体积中的颗粒或细胞的数量,b)确定所述第一体积中确定的颗粒数量的统计学不确定性,c)如果所确定的不确定度大于预定的 确定液体样品的另一体积中的颗粒或细胞的数量,d)添加在步骤a)和c)中确定的细胞或颗粒的数量,e)确定步骤中确定的颗粒数量的统计学不确定性 d),f)重复步骤d)和e)与另一体积的液体样品,直到在步骤e)中确定的不确定度低于所述预定值或直到 u 已经确定细胞或颗粒数量的液体样品的预定总体积超过比所述第一体积大的预定体积。 以这种方式,可以选择检查的体积和测量的不确定性,使得可以获得不确定性和执行测量所需的时间之间的适当折中。 根据本发明的装置包括一个液体流动系统,一旦计算装置决定实际细胞计数的不确定性足够小以依赖于当前的确定,允许测量序列被中断。 然后该设备将准备好进行下一个样品,从而在获得可靠的细胞计数的同时保持高容量。
Abstract:
A method for standardizing a spectrometer generating an optical spectrum from a sample, comprising generating at least one optical spectrum from at least one standardization sample each having a chemical composition resulting in the optical spectrum showing a characteristic pattern in a predetermined frequency range, comparing information relating to the pattern(s) to corresponding information relating to at least one reference pattern previously defined as the desired standard response from the at least one standardization sample, determining, based on the comparison, standardizing parameters describing the transition of the pattern(s) of the generated spectrum or spectra to the reference pattern(s) and storing said standardizing parameters in the spectrometer or a computer connected thereto, so that the spectrometer, when presented to an unknown sample, will, using the standardization parameters, generate an optical spectrum substantially identical to that which would be generated in a corresponding spectrometer standardized with a sample of the same chemical composition using the same previously defined reference pattern(s). The present method relates to standardization of the instrument to a well-defined state into which any number of instruments may be brought. In this state, calibrations may be transferred freely from instrument to instrument.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for quantitatively assessing the amount of any extraneous water contained in a milk sample, the method comprising the steps of (a) performing a determination of the infrared (IR) attenuation of the sample in at least one waveband, (b) quantitatively assessing the amount of any extraneous water in the sample on the basis of the determination (a) and predetermined regression coefficients derived from multivariate calibration with respect to the relationship between infrared attenuation in the at least one waveband and the amount of extraneous water. The invention furthermore relates to a similar method for determining the freezing point depression of the sample. In addition, the invention relates to a method for the establishment of a set of regression coefficients for use in an instrument which determines the amount of extraneous water or the freezing point depression of a milk sample.
Abstract:
The content of casein in milk is determined by two measurements of infrared absorbance in a milk sample by infrared spectrometry before and after a separation of the casein. The casein content is calculated by use of absorbance data recorded during the two absorbance measurements. The new method is considerable faster than the known wet-chemical methods, such as the normal wet chemical reference method for casein determination in milk using a Kjeldahl nitrogen determination of the milk sample, then a coagulation of the milk, and finally a Kjeldahl nitrogen determination of the filtrate. Further the new method provides a more reliable accuracy than the know determination using a single infrared analysis of a milk sample.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of determining a constituent of a sample and more specifically, to a method of correcting an absorbance value for a spectrometer. The method is especially applicable in connection with spectrometric analysis instruments for quantitatively determining the chemical composition of fluids, e.g. the content of fat, protein, lactose or urea, in food products, especially in raw milk or dairy products. The method is based upon a measurement of one or more selected ranges of a spectrum, providing an absorption spectrum of the product. The method may be applicable in connection with all spectroscopic instruments giving rise to specific ranges of a spectrum, such as UV, VIS, NIR, IR, NMR, MS, etc.). Typically, the spectrum will be a MID-IR absorption spectrum.