Handheld NIR Spectral Sensor Module Based on a Fully-Integrated Detector Array

Portable NIR spectroscopy: the route to green analytical chemistry

There is a growing interest for cost-effective and nondestructive analytical techniques in both research and application fields. The growing approach by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRs) pushes to develop handheld devices devoted to be easily applied for in situ determinations. Consequently, portable NIR spectrometers actually result definitively recognized as powerful instruments, able to perform nondestructive, online, or in situ analyses, and useful tools characterized by increasingly smaller size, lower cost, higher robustness, easy-to-use by operator, portable and with ergonomic profile. Chemometrics play a fundamental role to obtain useful and meaningful results from NIR spectra. In this review, portable NIRs applications, published in the period 2019-2022, have been selected to indicate starting references. These publications have been chosen among the many examples of the most recent applications to demonstrate the potential of this analytical approach which, not having the need for extraction processes or any other pre-treatment of the sample under examination, can be considered the "true green analytical chemistry" which allows the analysis where the sample to be characterized is located. In the case of industrial processes or plant or animal samples, it is even possible to follow the variation or evolution of fundamental parameters over time. Publications of specific applications in this field continuously appear in the literature, often in unfamiliar journal or in dedicated special issues. This review aims to give starting references, sometimes not easy to be found.

Using Fuzzy Logic to Increase Accuracy in Mango Maturity Index Classification: Approach for Developing a Portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Device

Grading is a decisive step in the successful distribution of mangoes to customers according to their preferences for the maturity index. A non-destructive method using near-infrared spectroscopy has historically been used to predict the maturity of fruit. This research classifies the maturity indexes in five classes using a new approach involving classification modeling and the application of fuzzy logic and indirect classification by measuring four parameters: total acidity, soluble solids content, firmness, and starch. These four quantitative parameters provide guidelines for maturity indexes and consumer preferences. The development of portable devices uses a neo spectra micro development kit with specifications for the spectrum of 1350-2500 nm. In terms of computer technology, this study uses a Raspberry Pi and Python programming. To improve the accuracy performance, preprocessing is carried out using 12 spectral transformation operators. Next, these operators are collected and combined to achieve optimal performance. The performance of the classification model with direct and indirect approaches is then compared. Ultimately, classification of the direct approach with preprocessing using linear discriminant analysis offered an accuracy of 91.43%, and classification of the indirect approach using partial least squares with fuzzy logic had an accuracy of 95.7%.