Detection of process components in food process streams by fluorescence
First Claim
1. A method for the monitoring of the variation in amount of fluorescing impurities during food processing in food process streams which contain fluorescing impurities comprising the steps of:
- A) adding a known amount of a substantially inert fluorescent material to said food process stream;
B) measuring the fluorescence emission wavelengths of the fluorescent impurity and the fluorescent material of step A over time utilizing a fluorometer;
C) calculating the ratio of the fluorescence of the fluorescent impurity to the fluorescence of the fluorescent material of step A;
D) determining from the change in the ratio of step C over time that a variation in the amount of the fluorescing impurity in the food process stream has occurred; and
E) adjusting the food process appropriately to compensate for the measured variation in the amount of the fluorescing impurity in said food process stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a method of monitoring for the presence of certain constituents of food processing streams by measurement of fluorescence. The constituent monitored can be a fluorescing impurity of a food product, or the food product itself if such naturally fluoresces. Moreover, losses of the constituent to be monitored may be determined by concurrent measurement of fluorescence of a fluorescent material added to the food process stream. The method is applicable to the following food processing streams among others: meat, vegetable oil, sugar beet, sugar cane, grain, poultry, fruit and soybean processing streams. Upon determination of a variation of the fluorescing constituent to be measured, the food process can be adjusted accordingly.
47 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for the monitoring of the variation in amount of fluorescing impurities during food processing in food process streams which contain fluorescing impurities comprising the steps of:
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A) adding a known amount of a substantially inert fluorescent material to said food process stream; B) measuring the fluorescence emission wavelengths of the fluorescent impurity and the fluorescent material of step A over time utilizing a fluorometer; C) calculating the ratio of the fluorescence of the fluorescent impurity to the fluorescence of the fluorescent material of step A; D) determining from the change in the ratio of step C over time that a variation in the amount of the fluorescing impurity in the food process stream has occurred; and E) adjusting the food process appropriately to compensate for the measured variation in the amount of the fluorescing impurity in said food process stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for the determination of the presence of contaminating food process streams which contain fluorescent moieties in the circulating water of food processing equipment which contains circulating water comprising the steps of:
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A) adding a known amount of a substantially inert fluorescent material to said circulating waters; B) measuring the fluorescence emission wavelengths of the fluorescent moiety and the fluorescent material of step A over time utilizing a fluorometer; C) calculating the ratio of the fluorescence of the fluorescent moiety to the fluorescence of the fluorescent material of step A; D) determining from the change in the ratio of step C over time that a contamination of the circulating water of the food processing equipment has occurred; and E) adjusting the food process appropriately to avoid further contamination of said food processing equipment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for quantifying the amount of a food substance present in a food processing stream wherein the food substance is present in a known ratio to a fluorescing moiety in the food processing stream comprising the steps of:
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A) adding a known amount of a substantially inert fluorescent material to said food process stream; B) measuring the fluorescence emission wavelengths of the fluorescing moiety and the fluorescent material of step A over time utilizing a fluorometer; C) calculating the ratio of the fluorescence of the fluorescent moiety to the fluorescence of the fluorescent material of step A; and D) determining from the change in the ratio of step C over time that a proportional variation in the amount of the food substance in said food processing stream has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification