Instrumentation in Food Analysis

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INSTRUMENTATION IN FOOD ANALYSIS Abstract: The reason for using instrumentation in food analysis over classical methods of analysis(titrimetric and colorimetric methods) is that this gives accurate and reliable results even during the measurement of minor components present in bulk quantities .Depending on the specific application, property to be measured and the type of food, we have to select the appropriate instrumental technique. Content: The commonly used instrumental techniques in food analysis are: * Chromatographic techniques * Hyphenated techniques * Spectroscopic techniques * thermal methods Chromatography is defined as a process by which solutes are separated by a dynamic differential migration in a system consisting of two or more phases, one of which is a mobile phase and in which the individual substances exhibit different mobility due to difference in adsorption, partition, solubility, vapour pressure ,molecular size, ionic charge density. Gas chromatography is used in case of volatile organic components, thermally stable below 350 degree centigrade. The samples are injected by a hypodermic micro syringe through a silicone rubber septum into the column. The injector, column, detector are heated at temperature at which the sample has a vapour pressure of at least 10 torr, about 50 degree centigrade above the boiling point of the highest boiling solute. The injection port and detector are kept at higher temperature than the column to promote rapid vaporization of the injected sample. The response of the detector is dependent on the composition of the vapour. By measuring the 'retention time' (time elapsed in minutes between the time a sample is injected and the time the chromatographic peak reaches maximum intensity) and comparing this time with that of a standard of the pure substance, it is possible to
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