Titration in food manufacturing

Food manufacturing entails converting raw ingredients into finished food products that are fit for human consumption. It is a complicated process with many different stages including preparing the correct ingredients as well as mixing, cooking, cooling, packing and storing.

There are many techniques involved in food manufacturing, including titration, which is a vital part of the food manufacturing process.

What is titration?

Titration is a common technique used in food manufacturing. It is a means to assess the quality of a reactant in a food sample. This can be achieved by finding out the concentration of an unknown solution  which can be called the analyte by involving a solution of a known concentration, which can be described as a titrant. This will be added to the analyte using a buret. For example, titration can be used to find out how much sugar or salt is found within a product. The technique of titration can be extremely beneficial for the food industry as it guarantees food quality and safety by accurately providing information on different elements in food products.

How does titration work?

Titration is an analytical method that can be used to find out the concentration of an unknown substance in a sample. This process can be broken down into several steps. This titration process begins by collecting an unknown solution which is called the analyte. Then, a known solution called the titrant will be added to the analyte. The titrant will react with the analyte until a specific point is reach, which is known as the endpoint. An indicator which is a colour-changing substance is normally used to signal the endpoint. The endpoint is when the indicator changes colour, which means the reaction is complete. At this point, you measure the volume of the titrant added. A calculation can then be made using the volume of the titrant and its known concentration.

Keep in mind that accurate measurements and proper technique are crucial for reliable results in titration. It’s an important method used in a myriad of fields, including food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and environmental analysis.

How is titration used in food manufacturing?

Titration is a proven method for testing substances in everyday use. It has a broad range of applications and is long established as a reliable form of analysis. It enables people in a specific industry to determine an unknown substance and its concentration within an analyte solution.

Titration is a form of quantitative chemical analysis with real-world applications across various fields. Firstly, chemical companies tend to use titration for analysing purity, content and chemical reactions during production. This process can ensure product consistency and adherence to specifications.

Those in the pharmaceutical industry use titration to balance medicine formulas. This can be crucial for getting an accurate concentration of the active ingredients. In this industry, it can also be useful for quality control as it depends on titration for safe and effective medications.

Water treatment plants also use titration to monitor water quality. It assists in measuring parameters such as acidity, alkalinity and chlorine levels. Titration ensures safe drinking water for communities and minimises the risks of adverse health effects through the consumption of contaminated water.

Titration is also used in the education sector and for research purposes. As an analytical tool, titration can be used to teach students about chemical reactions, stoichiometry and precision. Those who are conducting research can use titration for experiments and scientific investigations.

In food manufacturing, titration is a reliable and established method for assessing food quality, ensuring safety, and maintaining consistent standards in food production. It is especially useful for quality control and for measuring precise proportions of chemicals and ingredients in various products and treatments.

Food manufacturers also rely on titration for quality control and product development. It helps to get an idea of the accurate amounts of ingredients such as salt, vitamins such as vitamin C or E and additives. Titration ensures consistent taste, nutritional value and aesthetics of food products.

Alternatives to titration in food manufacturing (NIR)

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) is a technique used in food manufacturing. Instead of traditional titration methods, NIR provides a better way to analyse food samples. NIR is the study of how light interacts with matter in a specific range of wavelengths (from 750 to 2500 nanometers). When NIR light shines on a sample, it bounces off, goes through, or gets absorbed by the molecules in that sample.

What does NIR measure?

NIR helps to measure what’s in the sample. These can be elements such as protein, moisture, fat, and starch. It can also give us more information about the sample's physical characteristics.

Benefits of NIR

NIR analysis can be a fast, efficient method as it doesn't destroy the sample and also does not require any special chemicals (reagents). While other methods of analysing food samples cause harm to the food samples, NIR can assess whats in food, with no harm inflicted.

Advancements in NIR

NIR acts like a special tool that helps those in the food industry to understand the contents of food. Recently, miniature and portable devices have been created to streamline the NIR process. These portable spectrometers can perform a range of functions such as checking the quality of crops, determining the best way to grow crops and can reveal information on the nutritional value of food products for animals.

One example of NIR applications in food analysis is fresh vs. thawed meat discrimination. Researchers have applied computational techniques to NIR absorption spectra and have been able to successfully differentiate fresh meat from thawed meat.

In food processing, NIR also helps classify chicken fillets based on the growth conditions of the chicken. Similar tools were also able to determine the freshness of minced pork meat.

NIR is useful for those involved in the food production process as it helps to check food quality in real time. Not only does it guide people in making informed choices during food production, but its uses are not just limited to the food industry.

Solutions offered by Calibre Control

One solution offered by Calibre Control is the Perten DA 7250 NIR Analyser which does not use titration but employs Near-Infrared (NIR) technology for rapid and comprehensive analysis. The DA 7250 uses Diode Array NIR technology to analyse samples. It collects a large number of full spectra during the analysis. These spectra cover a wide range of wavelengths in the near-infrared region. It is also extremely easy to operate as users can pour the sample into an open cup or a disposable petri dish. No extensive cleaning is required, minimising cross-contamination risks. The instrument is able to perform a multi-component analysis in less than 10 seconds by quantifying various parameters relating to the sample composition, such as moisture content, protein levels, and fat content.

With an intuitive touch-screen interface, users are able to pick the product from the list, place the sample dish in the analyser and prompt an analysis. Unlike titration, which entails specific chemical reactions and precise volume measurements, the DA 7250 uses spectroscopy to analyse samples without direct chemical reactions. It provides rapid results without relying on reagents or titrant solutions. The Perten DA 7250 NIR Analyzer offers quick and accurate analysis, making it valuable in various industries, including grain quality control.

The Perten IM9520 Flour NIR Analyser is another powerful tool that does not use titration. Instead, it employs Near-Infrared (NIR) technology for rapid and comprehensive analysis. The IM9520 uses Diode Array NIR technology to analyse flour samples. It collects a large number of full spectra during the analysis. These spectra cover a wide range of wavelengths in the near-infrared region.

Users can pour the flour sample into an open cup or a disposable petri dish. The instrument performs a multi-component analysis in less than 30 seconds. It quantifies various parameters related to flour composition, such as moisture content, protein levels, ash content and other key components accurately and reproducibly. The IM9520 is operated via an intuitive touch-screen interface. Users can easily select the product from a list, place the sample dish in the analyser, and start the analysis automatically. This can help those in the food industry as it guarantees that flour quality adheres to specifications and complies with the relevant health standards.

The Perten’s Inframatic 9500 NIR Flour Module also does not rely on titration as it employs Near-Infrared (NIR) technology for rapid and comprehensive analysis of flour samples. The Inframatic 9500 uses Diode Array NIR technology to analyse flour samples. It functions by collecting a large number of full spectra during the analysis. The instrument can then perform a multi-component analysis in less than 30 seconds. It is able to quantify several parameters relating to flour composition such as moisture content, ash content, protein levels and other key components accurately and reproducibly.

Contact Calibre Control

At Calibre Control, we specialise in providing reliable equipment for food safety and quality. Whether you are interested in NIR solutions or are seeking other testing equipment, we can cater to your requirements.

To get in touch with Calibre Control call us on +44 (0) 1925 860 401 or send us an email at info@calibrecontrol.com.