Isotopic Marking for Liquid Origin Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to develop a method that allows for the safe and reproducible identification of the origin of liquids and their by-products, particularly in the context of food safety and preventing label of origin fraud in the wine, spirits, and other agricultural products industries.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves using a predefined model to assign a unique isotopic code to liquids and their by-products based on the type and concentrations of chemical elements and stable isotopes. This code is specific to an estate, processing factory, or even finer levels such as vats or vintages, and is generated by considering the natural and man-operated processes that affect the isotopic signature of the products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If isotopic marking is applied to identify liquid origin, then identification precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies isotopic markers to the liquid at the earliest possible stage in the production process (e.g., at the vineyard or farm level), before the liquid enters complex processing chains. This preliminary marking ensures the isotopic signature is established and preserved throughout subsequent processing, storage, and distribution, enabling reliable origin identification without requiring complex analysis at each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The isotopic composition of chemical elements (such as hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur) serves as an intermediary that carries origin information through the entire supply chain. Rather than directly tracking the liquid physically or chemically modifying it extensively, the patent uses these natural isotopic signatures as mediators that preserve origin information while allowing the liquid to undergo normal processing.
2Reliability
If detailed isotopic analysis is performed to detect fraud, then detection capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and measures only the specific isotopic ratios of key chemical elements (H, C, N, O, S) that are most informative for origin identification and fraud detection. Rather than performing comprehensive analysis of all possible chemical components, the method focuses on these critical isotopic markers, reducing analytical complexity and cost while maintaining high detection capability for adulteration, dilution, and misrepresentation.
3Loss of information
If unique codes are assigned at multiple levels (estate, vat, vintage), then traceability is improved, but data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the production system into distinct hierarchical levels (estate/vineyard, processing facility, specific vat or tank, vintage/batch) and assigns isotopic markers or records isotopic data at each level. This segmentation allows traceability to be maintained at multiple granularities without requiring a single complex tracking system, as each level can be independently characterized and tracked through its isotopic signature.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables precise identification of the origin of liquids and their by-products, including the place of cultivation, breeding, or production, and can detect fraud such as dilution, adulteration, or blending. It provides a reliable and economically viable means of ensuring product authenticity and traceability across multiple estates or processing sites.
Implementation Method 1
measuring (a1) the concentrations or ratios of stable isotopes characterising a geographic origin
Implementation Method 2
comparing this profile with profiles recorded in a predefined model (M) having profiles in memory in the form of unique codes
Data Source
AI summary
Method for isotopic identification, allowing, where appropriate, a liquid to be linked to a site of growth or harvest or a sub-product derived from a determined liquid, via analysis of concentration or of ratios of stable isotopes, and comparison to isotopic codes generated beforehand in a manner unique to a set of liquids issued from a site of growth, harvest or conversion. The invention also relates to a method that makes it possible to give a unique code to liquids of a site of growth, harvest or conversion, and to a computer making it possible to store the unique codes generated in memory, to generate unique codes for new liquids of a site of growth, harvest or conversion and to perform comparisons.