Product category:
Contract research
News Release from: Reading Scientific Services
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 19 July 2005
Investment brings new SEM for food
analysis
A powerful scanning electron microscope has been brought into the microscopy laboratories at Reading Scientific Services, to investigate fine detail behind the texture and performance of foods
A new scanning electron microscope has been purchased for the microscopy laboratory at Reading Scientific Services It will allow RSSL to image a wider range of food samples at a variety of appropriate magnifications to investigate and understand the fine structural detail that lies behind the texture and performance of many foods
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 12 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The Jeol JSM6480LV is a low vacuum instrument that is capable of being operated over a wide pressure range.
The main benefit of operation at low vacuum (ie, at a higher chamber pressure) is that it means moist, organic materials, which describes most foods, can be viewed without extensive sample preparation.
The instrument is fitted with a high resolution cryo-stage, which allows frozen hydrated samples to be imaged.
Using the cryo-stage it is possible, for example, to look at the distribution of fat, water and air particles in products such as spreads, ice-creams, salad creams, and sauces.
The instrument will also be used to look at the surface coatings of foods.
X-ray microanalysis, capable of detecting light elements, is also interfaced to the SEM, which gives it a powerful analytical capability.
Although RSSL has always had a scanning electron microscope, it says the performance of this new analytical, low-vacuum instrument, complete with cryo facility, is far superior to that of previous models.
It provides a versatile platform that will permit a wider range of food research projects to be investigated by RSSL's microscopy team.
It will be used also for foreign body identification and environmental analyses.
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