Assaying Total Carotenoids in Flours of Corn and Sweetpotato by Laser Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

This study describes the application of the laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) for quantification of total carotenoids (TC) in corn flours and sweetpotato flours. Overall, thirty-three different corn flours and nine sweetpotato flours were investigated. All PAS measurements were performed at room temperature using 488-nm argon laser radiation for excitation and mechanical modulation of 9 and 30 Hz. The measurements were repeated within a run and within several days or months. The UV–Vis spectrophotometry was used as the reference method. The concentration range that allows for the reliable analysis of TC spans a region from 1 to 40 mg kg−1 for corn flours and from 9 to 40 mg kg−1 for sweetpotato flours. In the case of sweetpotato flours, the quantification may extend even to 240 mg kg−1 TC. The estimated detection limit values for TC in corn and sweetpotato flours were 0.1 and 0.3 mg kg−1, respectively. The computed repeatability (n = 3–12) and intermediate precision (n = 6–28) RSD values at 9 and 30 Hz are comparable: 0.1–17.1% and 5.3–14.7% for corn flours as compared with 1.4–9.1% and 4.2–23.0% for sweetpotato flours. Our results show that PAS can be successfully used as a new analytical tool to simply and rapidly screen the flours for their nutritional potential based on the total carotenoid concentration

Application of Photothermal Methods for Quantification of Carotenoids in Apricot Jams

Carotenes, found in a diversity of fruit-containing foods, are important sources of antioxidants; a good example is apricot jam. In the study described in this paper, both the total carotenoid content (TCC) as well as the content of \upbeta β-carotene in six different apricot jams were quantified using traditional (UV–VIS) spectrophotometry (SP), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS), and the optothermal window (OW) method. Unlike SP and HPLC, LPAS and the OW methods require the minimum of sample preparation and only a one time calibration step which enables practically direct quantification of the TCC. Results were verified versus data obtained with SP as the reference technique. It was shown that LPAS and the OW method (at 473 nm) provide satisfactory results with $$R^{2}=0.9884$$R2=0.9884 and 0.9766 for LPAS and OW, respectively

Exploiting direct and indirect methods for the estimation of the total carotenoid concentration in dried pastas

Item does not contain fulltext7 p

The concentration of trans-lycopene in postharvest watermelon: An evaluation of analytical data obtained by direct methods

Item does not contain fulltext8 p

Estimating rapidly and precisely the concentration of beta carotene in mango homogenates by measuring the amplitude of optothermal signals, chromaticity indices and the intensities of Raman peaks

Item does not contain fulltext7 p

Non-destructive Measurement of Total Carotenoid Content in Processed Tomato Products : Infrared Lock-In Thermography, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy/Chemometrics, and Condensed Phase Laser-Based Photoacoustics—Pilot Study

Carotenes found in a diversity of fruits and vegetables are among important natural antioxidants. In a study described in this paper, the total carotenoid content (TCC) in seven different products derived from thermally processed tomatoes was determined using laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS), infrared lock-in thermography (IRLIT), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with chemometrics. Results were verified versus data obtained by traditional VIS spectrophotometry (SP) that served as a reference technique. Unlike SP, the IRLIT, NIRS, and LPAS require a minimum of sample preparation which enables practically direct quantification of the TCC

Applications of a universal optothermal window detector for samples of agricultural purpose.

The optothermal window (OW) described here is a practical and easy to use sensor that enables one to calculate the optical absorption coefficient of fluid and semi fluid samples from the measured optothermal signal. The potential of this new and universal device is demonstrated in studies on liquids and gels of agricultural interest