We attended the Institute of Food Technologists’ FIRST Conference in Chicago this year, and it was an opportunity to connect with those across the food and beverage industry to focus on what comes “FIRST”: That is, Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology.
It aimed to bring together thousands from across the food sector; all focused on bettering the global food system by showcasing the work and insights of the most qualified researchers, entrepreneurs, scientists–and engineers, like our team at Kett.
While Kett’s laboratory-quality instruments serve more than just those in the food industry, one question we repeatedly fielded during this conference was regarding our NIR moisture meters and composition meters and their instant results. The question? Compared to traditional, legacy methods of gauging moisture and composition like the loss-on drying method, just how “instant” is instant?
At Kett, our solutions are all geared toward providing scientifically accurate data as quickly and efficiently as possible so our customers get results they can trust and fast results that expedite their operations, no matter their industry or sector. Let’s take a look at what “instant” really means when you partner with Kett.
The Time-Saving Power of Near-Infrared Technology
Our clients and customers come to us out of a place of need: Often, they need to quickly analyze the moisture content or composition of their products or raw materials, which can include anything from:
- Harvested crops and agricultural products
- Chemical agents
- Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
- Food products
- Wood, concrete, and other building materials
- Pulp and paper
- Polymers, polymer films, and plastics
- And more
No matter the test subject, the composition or moisture content is necessary to optimize a product’s quality, shelf life, safety, and efficacy–and for years, the only commonly available solution was to conduct a test to assess the subject’s moisture content via the loss-on drying method, or the LOD method. LOD relies on the thermogravimetric principle–in other words, the principle of logging the difference or change in weight of a particular test sample before and after heading it until completely dried and removed of all moisture.
While this method is effective and works in many applications, it does present some challenges for those who need more specific information or faster data. The two main challenges are:
- “Moisture,” in this case, includes all matter that can be dried via a heat source, including water, fats, alcohols, and volatile solvents. There is no differentiation from one type of moisture to another.
- The Loss-on Drying method is a destructive test method that relies on a sample to be heated until all moisture has been vaporized, which can sometimes take hours; this presents significant issues for those who need large datasets or ongoing or continuous testing.
Some testing–especially for composition analysis–requires sending samples away to a lab, then a 5- to 7-day waiting period to wait for these tests to return. Again, this can be a huge roadblock to efficient operations.
Kett’s NIR testing instruments operate on a much faster turnaround. For example, the KJT270F Fiber Optic Near-Infrared Composition Meter is instant, non-destructive, and takes readings in-line so you never have to wait for a test to come back from the lab, whether that be across the room, the building, or mailed across the country for results. Instead, the KJT270F provides instantaneous readings–with a 0.5-second refresh rate and up to 50 separate stored product calibrations. This means you can take measurements instantly and even on the process line, allowing you to make corrections in real-time instead of producing substandard products.
The KB270 Near Infrared Composition Meter is the desktop version of this laboratory-quality instrument that provides the same kind of instantaneous response time and 0.5-second refresh rate–empowering you to get highly accurate results during product development and testing, not just during production like with the inline model.
Near-infrared composition and moisture instruments like the KJT270 reflect light off each test subject. This light resonates within the appropriate molecules, and during this time, some light is absorbed, and then measured: The higher the level of the measured component, the higher the amount of absorbed light will be. So much of this technology is dependent on refracted and absorbed light, which is why these results are so fast–because much of this process happens “at the speed of light,” so to speak.
Real-World Applications: How Kett Can Help
Through instruments like the KJT270F Inline NIR Composition Meter and its partner, the KB270 NIR Desktop Composition Meter, as well as the enhanced KJT700 Instant Online Composition Analyzer and the Kett’s KJT170 Portable Handheld NIR Meter, which take laboratory-quality readings anywhere on the go or in the field, and offers an instant response time and 0.2-second refreshes. So, just how fast is instant? At the speed of light.
There are so many real-world applications for these NIR composition meters, which provide readings in under a second, including:
- Rapid optimization and ensured consistency of food products to increase shelf life
- Analyzing dryer cans in the pulp and paper industry to evaluate for wet streaks and uneven drying without slow or destructive testing
- Evaluating dryer efficiency and production throughput in tunnel dryers within the chemicals industry
- Assessing on-line and in-line moisture levels of pharmaceuticals, especially in fluid-bed dryers and spray dryers to improve granulation consistency
- Measuring the moisture content of polymers and films throughout production to ensure appropriately low moisture levels are achieved
- And more
Are you eager to discover how instant results from our NIR instruments can support your processes online and at a desktop? Contact us today!
