Use of hyperspectral transmittance imaging to evaluate the internal quality of nectarines

[EN] The internal quality of nectarines (Prunus persica L. Batsch var. nucipersica) cv. 'Big Top' (yellow flesh) and 'Magique' (white flesh) has been inspected using hyperspectral transmittance imaging. Hyperspectral images of intact fruits were acquired in the spectral range of 630-900 nm using transmittance mode during their ripening under controlled conditions. The detection of split pit disorder and classification according to an established firmness threshold were performed using PLS-DA. The prediction of the Internal Quality Index (IQI) related to ripeness was performed using PLS-R. The most important variables were selected using interval-PLS. As a result, an accuracy of 94.7% was obtained in the detection of fruits with split pit of the 'Big Top' cultivar. Accuracies of 95.7% and 94.6% were achieved in the classification of the 'Big Top' and 'Magique' cultivars, respectively, according to the firmness threshold. The internal quality was predicted through the IQI with R-2 values of 0.88 and 0.86 for the two cultivars. The results obtained indicate the great potential of hyperspectral transmittance imaging for the assessment of the internal quality of intact nectarines.This work was partially funded by INIA and FEDER funds through project RTA2015-00078-00-00. Sandra Munera thanks INIA for the FPI-INIA grant num. 43 (CPR2014-0082), partially supported by European Union FSE funds.Munera, S.; Blasco Ivars, J.; Amigo, J.; Cubero-García, S.; Talens Oliag, P.; Aleixos Borrás, MN. (2019). Use of hyperspectral transmittance imaging to evaluate the internal quality of nectarines. Biosystems Engineering. 182:54-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2019.04.001S546418

Short communication: automatic inspection of the pomegranate (punica granatum L.) arils quality by means of computer vision

With the aim of ensuring the quality and homogenising the colour of commercial batches of pomegranate arils, a new prototype for the automatic inspection of pomegranate arils and their separation into categories by means of air ejectors has been developed. Arils are singulated and transported on conveyor belts. Images of the arils are acquired using two cameras to allow estimation of the quality and are then expelled through different outlets according to the category. New control software were developed that synchronise the advance of the conveyor belts, the acquisition of images and the separation by air ejectors, which also includes mechanisms for the synchronisation and communication between the vision and control computers. A new computer vision system has been developed for the inspection of arils that distinguish between arils and raw material by estimating the colour of the objects and then classify the arils by size and colour. The prototype was tested over a six-month period in a Spanish pomegranate producer, with the inspection of about 5 Mg of product. The new prototype achieves the objective of inspecting and sorting pomegranate arils according to their quality, reaching the performance specifications

Understanding effects of activation-treatments in K-free and K-MoVSbO bronze catalysts for propane partial oxidation

[EN] The effect of activation treatments of K-free and K-MoVSbO bronzes on either their physico-chemical characteristics or catalytic properties for propane partial oxidation have been studied. The as-synthesized materials, hydrothermally prepared and presenting (SbO)(2)M20O56 type structure (the so called M1-phase), were activated by different heat-treatments, characterized (XRD, SEM-EDS, HRTEM, V K-edge, Sb L-1- and K-edges XANES, EPR, XPS, NH3-TPD) and tested in propane partial oxidation. In general, the selectivity to acrylic acid (the most valuable product) was higher in K-containing MoVSbO catalysts. In addition, different trend in the catalytic behavior was found between K-free and K-containing MoVSbO series, mostly related to different changes in crystalline phases distribution and catalysts surface characteristics (composition and acid properties) induced by the several activation treatments which also modified the average Sb oxidation state. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Financial support from DGICYT in Spain through Projects CTQ2012-37925-C03-1 is gratefully acknowledged. Authors are also grateful to Belen Albela and Laurent Bonneviot (Laboratory of Chemistry, Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon UMR-CNRS 5182, Universite de Lyon) for the instrumental and technical EPR support.Ivars Barceló, F.; Millet, JMM.; Blasco Lanzuela, T.; Concepción Heydorn, P.; Valente, JS.; López Nieto, JM. (2014). Understanding effects of activation-treatments in K-free and K-MoVSbO bronze catalysts for propane partial oxidation. Catalysis Today. 238:41-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2014.01.036S414823