Rapid Elemental Testing via Microwave Ashing and Flame Photometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for testing elemental content, particularly sodium, in food products are time-consuming, inaccurate, and complex, posing challenges in rapid food preparation and packaging environments, where longer testing times reduce data production and can lead to production inefficiencies and product waste.

Innovation Solution

A method involving pressing a food sample between microwave-transparent, porous, and absorbent pads, applying microwave radiation with a susceptor material for rapid ashing, followed by acid dilution and flame photometry, allowing for quick and accurate determination of sodium and other elements like potassium, lithium, and calcium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional sodium testing methods (ICP atomic emission spectroscopy) are used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases significantly (4 hours ramp time + 15 hours dwell time)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesodium content measurement accuracyVSAvoidtesting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and measures only the specific element of interest (sodium, potassium, lithium, barium, or calcium) by selecting a filter that transmits only the characteristic wavelength emitted by that element during flame combustion, eliminating the need for comprehensive multi-element analysis and significantly reducing testing time while maintaining precision for the target element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from requiring extended dwell time for signal accumulation (conventional ICP method) to using intense flame combustion with optical filtration that provides immediate measurable signals, reducing analysis time from hours to minutes while preserving measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If conventional testing intervals are implemented, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity decreases due to production halts or increased product waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelemental content accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent rushes through the analysis process by using rapid flame combustion and immediate optical detection with characteristic wavelength filtration, completing elemental analysis in minutes rather than hours, allowing continuous production to proceed without interruption while maintaining accurate quality control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary sample preparation by drying and crushing the food sample before analysis, and uses pre-selected filters tuned to specific element wavelengths, enabling rapid analysis without requiring extensive preprocessing or instrument warm-up time, thus maintaining productivity while ensuring measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If titration with silver nitrate is used for sodium testing, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates when other chloride sources are present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting simplicityVSAvoidsodium content accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary step of flame combustion that converts all chloride compounds (NaCl, KCl, LiCl, BaCl2, CaCl2) into gaseous forms, followed by optical filtration that selectively detects only the characteristic emission wavelength of the target element, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving precise measurement even in the presence of multiple chloride sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by using element-specific optical filters that transmit only the narrow wavelength range characteristic of the target element's emission, allowing selective measurement of sodium (or other elements) even when multiple elements are present in the sample, thus maintaining both operational simplicity and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 rapid elemental testing within 10 minutes, reducing production halts and product waste, while maintaining accuracy and precision, and is applicable to various compositions beyond food products.

Implementation Method 1

applying microwave radiation to the sample and pads in the presence of a microwave susceptor material until the pressed sample ashes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

flame photometry, allowing for quick and accurate determination of sodium and other elements like potassium, lithium, and calcium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlame photometry: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS10073019B2Rapid quantitative element testing

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 CEM CORP

AI summary

A method of element testing is disclosed that includes the steps of weighing a sample, pressing the sample between pads, applying microwave radiation to the sample and pads in the presence of a microwave susceptor material and ashing the pressed sample, adding the pads and the ashed sample to an acid, and forwarding filtrate from the pad-sample-acid mixture to a spectrometer.