Detection of free oxygen and water vapor in fertilized and unfertilized eggs by diode laser spectroscopy—Exploration of diagnostics possibilities. Issue 3 (12th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Wansha; Lin, Huiying; Zhang, Hao; Svanberg, Katarina; Svanberg, Sune
• Is Part Of: Journal of biophotonics. Volume 11:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-10-12
• Subjects: biophotonics -- egg -- fertilized eggs -- GASMAS -- laser spectroscopy; Photonics -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Medical instruments and apparatus -- Periodicals; 621.3605
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201700154
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-063X

Abstract

Abstract : Nonintrusive methods for characterizing food products are of increasing interest related to the greater awareness of food safety issues. Hen eggs are an important part in food consumption in most parts of the world. We have investigated an optical method utilizing tunable diode lasers for monitoring free gas in eggs. We show that oxygen signals, recorded around 760 nm, increase steadily as eggs become older. Further, we investigated fertilized eggs, which show a quite different temporal behavior during the hatching time. The oxygen signal decreases here with time, while water vapor, recorded around 937 nm, shows a steady increase. Conclusions regarding the size of the air cell and the oxygen availability in fertilized eggs are drawn. The technique might be developed for automatic control of egg freshness, as well as for assessing if eggs are fertilized or not. Abstract : Food quality is attaining increasing attention. Chicken eggs constitute a major food component. A nonintrusive spectroscopic method to assess the freshness of eggs has been developed based on the monitoring of the contents of free gas. Tunable diode laser spectroscopy on oxygen and water vapor was employed. The development of the oxygen concentration inside fertilized eggs was also followed.