Electronic tongue system ‘tastes’ antioxidants
1 min read
Researchers have unveiled a new 'electronic tongue' system that can assess the antioxidant power and other quality parameters of juices, fruit and fruit purees.
The research has been undertaken by a team from the Centre for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development (IDM) and the CUINA group of the Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain.
The use of electronic tongues is on the increase as an alternative to traditional methods of analysis for controlling the quality of food products. The new system was designed by UPV researchers and is based on techniques of voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. It consists of a pc application and electronic measuring devices, combined with newly developed software that enables test and the ability to store measurement data.
So far, the system has been tested with antioxidant solutions such as citric acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin c) and malic acid. Miguel Alcañiz, IDM researcher at the Universitat Politècnica de València, explained: "We apply electrical signals to the solution and we measure its response. Thus we can quantify the antioxidant concentration in that solution." Further studies will evaluate the degradation of vitamin c in juices, the detection of glyphosate - a weedkiller widely used in agriculture and monitoring water quality in sewerage treatment plants.
