Seed Reflectance Scanning for Non-Destructive Aflatoxin Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting aflatoxin in almonds are labor-intensive, time-consuming, destructive, and inaccurate, failing to meet stringent food safety regulations due to the inability to identify low levels of contaminants effectively, leading to significant product loss and wastage.

Innovation Solution

A method and scanning device using electromagnetic radiation to illuminate seeds, detect reflected signals, and compare them with predetermined reflectance levels to accurately measure aflatoxin concentrations, employing hyperspectral or multi-spectral imaging and algorithms like Savitzky-Golay derivative and multiple linear regression for rapid, non-destructive classification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If wet lab analysis is used for aflatoxin detection, then measurement accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to destructive and slow testing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaflatoxin detection accuracyVSAvoidtesting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/chemical laboratory testing systems with an optical detection system using electromagnetic radiation. The system illuminates almond kernels with light and detects reflected signals to identify aflatoxin contamination, eliminating the need for destructive wet chemical analysis while maintaining detection accuracy and enabling rapid non-destructive testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If manual inspection is used for seed classification, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to detect low levels of contaminants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection system simplicityVSAvoidcontaminant detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical detection system that uses electromagnetic radiation to detect aflatoxin. The system captures reflected light signals and processes them through algorithms to identify contamination at levels below 5 ppb, far exceeding human detection capabilities while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If liquid chromatography is used for aflatoxin detection, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance worsens due to destructive sampling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaflatoxin concentration accuracyVSAvoidproduct wastage

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes destructive liquid chromatography with non-destructive optical detection. The system uses electromagnetic radiation to probe the almond kernel and detect aflatoxin through reflected light signals, preserving the sample and eliminating the need to grind and chemically treat the product for analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If UV fluorescence detection is used, then detection capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from substrate color

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaflatoxin detectabilityVSAvoidsignal accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from UV fluorescence to reflected light signal analysis. By measuring the reflectance characteristics of the almond kernel under electromagnetic radiation and analyzing spectral features, the system avoids the fluorescence interference problem while maintaining sensitivity to aflatoxin contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables rapid, accurate, and non-destructive detection of aflatoxin levels in almonds, allowing for informed decision-making and reducing wastage by directing affected almonds to appropriate treatment processes, thus meeting regulatory standards and optimizing product quality.

Implementation Method 1

illuminating the edible seed with at least one wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, the at least one wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is partially reflected by each seed including specific signals from aflatoxin if it is present

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20260056119A1Improved method for classification of an edible seed and a scanning device therefor

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 SURENUT PTY LTD

AI summary

A method for detecting an aflatoxin on a seed which includes determining wavelengths at which there is greatest difference in reflectance intensities of control and contaminated seed, and comparing reflectance intensities from the captured image with reflectance intensities indicative of an aflatoxin presence at a predetermined concentration. Seeds are ejected that have an aflatoxin concentration greater than the predetermined concentration as indicated by the reflectance intensities from the captured images. Examples of seeds include a nut or legume.