The adulteration of foods such asolive oil It is a common problem in the food industry. Currently the quality of edible oil is evaluated using traditional analysis techniques that are generally destructive. Therefore we are trying to find alternative methods with non-destructive techniques, such as ultrasound. FromUniversity of Extremadura, in Spain, a technique has been developed that goes in this direction to characterize and identify fraudulent practices in olive oil.
How do you explain Antonio Jimenez, author of the study, “thanks to ultrasonic inspection we can acoustically characterize the oil. To do this we evaluate various parameters related to the speed, attenuation and frequency of the ultrasonic waves." Furthermore, adds the researcher, “the main novelty of this work is the study of the frequency of the sound propagated by the oil. In this way we can know which frequencies this substrate has the task of reinforcing and which ones have the task of attenuating."
The results, indicates the researcher and professor of the Spanish University, revealed “the suitability of this technique for classifying pure and adulterated oil samples”. Professor Jiménez adds that “the union of speed, attenuation and frequency provides a series of ultrasonic variables that perfectly characterize an oil sample”.
To carry out the study, pulsed ultrasonic signals with a frequency of 2,25 MHz were used, applying them to samples of pure olive oil. Furthermore, the viscosity and density values were measured.
All this translates intosuitability of non-destructive ultrasonic inspection as an alternative method to traditional techniques for the evaluation of edible oils. As the university professor adds, “low frequency ultrasonic inspection is a procedure that allows you to obtain real-time, non-destructive and profitable results. Unlike traditional techniques, which involve, on the one hand, the destruction of the product and, on the other, generate chemical waste that must subsequently be treated. Furthermore, the time required for a complete destructive analysis is high and involves an economic cost, to which is added the high price of samples of this type of product".
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