Spectroscopic testing techniques can provide rapid qualitative and/or quantitative identification and fingerprinting of diverse materials with little or no sample preparation.
Fourier Transform Near-Infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy is considered as one of the alternative spectroscopic technologies. It is designed to work with any existing calibration method that has been developed by a customer or through a third party.
A monitoring device like NIR enables the industry to adjust the relationship between the different nutritional components, such as fat, protein, lactose, ash and solids (moisture) for improved production. Not only does this standardisation bring composition in line with specified regulatory limits, but also improve yield, reduce wastage and increase profit margins.
NIR can be applied non-destructively and with no sample preparation. The analytical technique works best on material that have strong -OH, -CH and -NH functional group absorbers. Because NIR models are empirically developed, the equipment is most useful and precise in applications where the same product is measured on a routine basis.
In NIR single compounds influence not only individual regions, but often the whole spectrum which is a unique reproduction of a specific product type. It is therefore imperative that the reference data for all matrices must be determined, and spectral data and reference data are correlated in a calibration to develop statically predictive equation for quantitation for all the various product types. NIR instrument can be very precise for a given product type if it is calibrated with same matrix tested using primary methods.
| Technique | FT-NIR spectroscopy |
| Time Required | ~ 4 Minutes per sample |
| Chemical Use | No chemicals Required |
| Automation | Fully Automated |
| Suitability | Secondary method, Rapid analysis, suitable for high-throughput labs |
The NIR technology is considered as secondary methods for market access compliance and therefore the applications are generally associated with non-market access area like CFDA or MPI homogeneity trials and in-house process validation especially by infant formula manufacturers.
AsureQuality offers proximate analysis in dairy products such as whole milk powders, skim milk powders, whey protein concentrate etc.
Refer to table below for further information regarding the analysis:
| Analysis code | GC-FNIR01-01 |
| Standard TAT | 7 days |
| Minimum sample size | 50 gms |
| Method Reference | AsureQuality method (FT-NIR) |
| Accredited sample types | Milk Powder |
| LOR | 0.1%m/m |