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Determination of milk content by a laser light scattering technique

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Abstract

Rapid and safe detection of contactless liquid components is an important technological development priority for milk and food safety. However, there is few practical methods to detect fat or protein content by non-destructive methods. Herein, we present a simple and rapid method for the determination of fat and protein content in milk products based on the laser scattering light theory that was developed. The intensities of the transmitted light and 90° scattered light with respect to transmission direction are collected and processed. The fat contents of 40 milk samples determined by the transmitted light method were less than 10% error. The scattering light method also accurately represented the component of milk. In this paper, the theory and operating principle of the instrument are introduced. Through data analysis and graph illustration, concrete schemes for testing the milk component are given. The method we used is real-time and satisfies online requirements for milk products. The results of this study have great potential in employing one low-cost technology for fresh milk content analysis.

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Funding

This research was supported by the Institute of Materials Research & Engineering, The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), SC25/21-107317, Singapore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), #08-03, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, Singapore, 138634, Singapore

    Xizu Wang, Lin Ke, Szu Cheng Lai & Qiang Zhu

  2. Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore

    Xiao Qin Sun & Soo Jin Chua

Authors
  1. Xizu Wang
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  2. Lin Ke
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  3. Szu Cheng Lai
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  4. Qiang Zhu
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  5. Xiao Qin Sun
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  6. Soo Jin Chua
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Contributions

WX and KL conceived the experiments and theory analysis; LSC, ZQ, SXQ carried out the device fabrication, characterizations, performance measurements as well as optical simulations. CSJ gives out theory guidance. All authors contributed to the data analysis and manuscript revision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lin Ke.

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The authors declare that all data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary information files.

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This study did not include human or animal subjects.

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Wang, X., Ke, L., Lai, S.C. et al. Determination of milk content by a laser light scattering technique. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 146 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-022-09409-w

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