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Determining moisture content of Traditional Chinese Medicines using a near-infrared LED-based moisture content sensor with spectrum analysis

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Abstract

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), moisture content (MC) inspection using voltage level or a lock-in amplifier, with a features-based near-infrared light-emitting diode sensor is possible. Abundant absorption response in a wide frequency range and information in both the time-domain and frequency-domain can be obtained, with the square excitation method. However, planeness, heterogeneous particle sizes, and measurement noise negatively affect the time-domain feature during MC inspection. In this work, spectrum analysis (SA) for feature extraction is investigated, to precisely measure the MC of Dutong pills. The principal components for low and high frequencies, are aimed at counteracting the dimensional methods, which are used for supplying the lower dimensional features. The SA experimental results demonstrate that the low frequency components, ranging from the base to the 3rd harmonic components, have a high linear correlation with the MC. The calibration and validation experimental results reveal that the MC can be a monotonic function about the SA amplitudes or first principal component (PC1), with the proposed sensor. This method has the potential to be used for gauging automatic, in situ MCs, particularly for quality control and Process Analytical Technology in TCM. Future research opportunities include improving accuracy and application of the method under field conditions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U1610117, U1810129 and 11504256); Key Research and Development Program of Shanxi Province of China (Grant Nos. 201803D121090 and 201803D31077); the Open Funds of the Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM; Ministry of Education; Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China; The first-class discipline in Jiangxi: Traditional Chinese pharmacology, China (JXSYLXK-ZHYAO003); Excellent Youth Academic Leader in Higher Education of Shanxi Province (2018), China; State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, GIGCAS (Grant No. SKLOG-201715); and the Fund for Shanxi “1331 Project” Key Innovative Research Team (1331KIRT), China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi, China

    Zhenzhong Zang, Xuanbing Qiu, Yongmei Guan & Ming Yang

  2. School of Applied Science, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, Shanxi, China

    Xuanbing Qiu, Enhua Zhang, Xiaohu He, Guqing Guo, Chuanliang Li & Jilin Wei

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  1. Zhenzhong Zang
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  2. Xuanbing Qiu
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  3. Yongmei Guan
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  4. Enhua Zhang
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  5. Xiaohu He
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  6. Guqing Guo
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Correspondence to Xuanbing Qiu.

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Zang, Z., Qiu, X., Guan, Y. et al. Determining moisture content of Traditional Chinese Medicines using a near-infrared LED-based moisture content sensor with spectrum analysis. Opt Quant Electron 51, 133 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-019-1848-2

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