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An Automated Measuring Methodology for Crystal Size in Sweetened Condensed Milk Using Digital Image Processing and Analysis

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Abstract

Sweetened condensed milk is a widely studied product, including problems related to crystallization of the sugars during its process of industrial production and/or its shelf life. However, no studies on the standardization of techniques for measuring crystal size in sweetened condensed milk are found in the literature. In this work, a methodology for measuring crystal size in sweetened condensed milk samples, based on the use of the ImageJ software for digital processing/analysis of images obtained by optical microscopy, is proposed and tested. In its final format, the proposed methodology essentially requires only the product samples, the preparation of two microscope slides containing around 0.003 g of sample covered by a lightly pressed glass coverslip, and the recording of 12 images for each slide, followed by the automated processing and analysis of these images. It provides representative values for the mean crystal size but underestimated values for the total number of crystals present in the sample.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support received from MEC/CAPES—PNPD and CNPq.

Conflict of Interest

Andrea Bordin Schumacher declares that she has no conflict of interest. Jordana Boschetti Susin declares that she has no conflict of interest. Alexandre Hahn Englert declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ligia Damasceno Ferreira Marczak declares that she has no conflict of interest. Nilo Sergio Medeiros Cardozo declares that he has no conflict of interest. This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Engenheiro Luis Englert, s/n, Bairro Farroupilha, 90040-040, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Andrea Bordin Schumacher, Jordana Boschetti Susin, Ligia Damasceno Ferreira Marczak & Nilo Sérgio Medeiros Cardozo

  2. Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS), Rua Coronel Vicente, 281, Bairro Centro, 90030-040, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Andrea Bordin Schumacher

  3. Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Alexandre Hahn Englert

Authors
  1. Andrea Bordin Schumacher
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  2. Alexandre Hahn Englert
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  3. Jordana Boschetti Susin
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  4. Ligia Damasceno Ferreira Marczak
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  5. Nilo Sérgio Medeiros Cardozo
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Correspondence to Nilo Sérgio Medeiros Cardozo.

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Schumacher, A.B., Englert, A.H., Susin, J.B. et al. An Automated Measuring Methodology for Crystal Size in Sweetened Condensed Milk Using Digital Image Processing and Analysis. Food Anal. Methods 8, 1858–1867 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-014-0054-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-014-0054-x

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