Determining sucrose concentration in honey based on fluorescence spectroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical methods for determining sucrose concentration in honey are non-destructive but costly and environmentally dependent, and directly exciting sucrose can lead to inaccurate quantification due to simultaneous excitation of other honey components.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a laser-induced fluorescence technique that stimulates honey samples with a laser beam in the 390-410 nm range, detecting specific fluorescence peaks and wavelengths to calculate sucrose concentration using a database generated from standard samples, allowing for accurate and cost-effective sucrose quantification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional fluorescence spectroscopy methods directly excite sucrose, then sucrose concentration can be measured, but other honey components are simultaneously excited leading to inaccurate quantification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using laser-induced fluorescence excitation at a specific wavelength (390-410 nm) that targets flavonoids in honey as mediators. The sucrose concentration is determined indirectly through its effect on the fluorescence spectrum of these intermediary compounds, rather than direct excitation of sucrose, thereby avoiding interference from other simultaneously excited components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the excitation parameter by using a specific laser wavelength range (390-410 nm) that optimally excites flavonoids while minimizing direct sucrose excitation. It also changes the detection parameter by analyzing the fluorescence spectrum in a specific wavelength range and using the ratio of peak intensities at different wavelengths to determine sucrose concentration, improving measurement specificity.
2Ease of manufacture
If optical methods are used to identify and quantify honey components, then non-destructive analysis is achieved, but the cost increases and environmental condition dependence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses laser-induced fluorescence with specific wavelength parameters (390-410 nm excitation) that provide more stable and environment-independent measurements compared to conventional fluorescence methods. The method measures the ratio of peak intensities at different wavelengths, which compensates for environmental variations, achieving both cost-effectiveness and reliability.
3Measurement precision
If laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is used, then mineral elements can be determined, but the method is costly and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the beneficial aspect of laser-based methods (fluorescence excitation) while eliminating the complex and costly LIBS approach. By focusing on fluorescence spectroscopy at specific wavelengths rather than full LIBS analysis, the method achieves simplified system complexity while maintaining measurement precision for sucrose concentration.
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 provides a robust, low-cost, and accurate means to quantify sucrose concentration in honey, unaffected by environmental conditions, by utilizing the self-absorption of laser-induced fluorescence by flavonoids to determine sucrose levels.
Implementation Method 1
stimulating the sample by emitting a first laser beam on the sample in a first stimulation direction, detecting a fluorescence spectrum from a first fluorescence emission emitted from the sample
Implementation Method 2
utilizing the self-absorption of laser-induced fluorescence by flavonoids to determine sucrose levels
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining sucrose concentration in honey. The method includes preparing a sample of honey, stimulating the sample by emitting a first laser beam on the sample in a first stimulation direction, detecting a fluorescence spectrum from a first fluorescence emission emitted from the sample in a first detection direction, detecting a first pair of fluorescence peaks and a second pair of peak wavelengths in the fluorescence spectrum, and determining a sucrose concentration based on one of the first pair and the second pair utilizing a database. The database includes a plurality of predetermined sucrose concentrations associated with the first pair or the second pair.