Optimization of Handheld Near-Infrared Spectrometers for Rapid Citrus Limonoid Screening
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Abstract
The citrus industry faces significant economic challenges due to the phenomenon of delayed bitterness, which is primarily caused by the conversion of non-bitter precursors into bitter limonoids during commercial juice processing and storage. Traditional analytical methods for quantifying these compounds, such as high-performance liquid chromatography, are highly accurate but suffer from being time-consuming, expensive, and destructive, rendering them unsuitable for real-time field applications or high-throughput industrial screening. This paper investigates the optimization and calibration of handheld near-infrared spectrometers as a rapid, non-destructive alternative for the quantification of limonoids in intact citrus fruits and extracted juices. By coupling miniaturized optical hardware with advanced chemometric algorithms, near-infrared spectroscopy offers a practical solution for early screening. We provide a comprehensive evaluation of spectral preprocessing techniques, variable selection methods, and multivariate calibration models, specifically focusing on partial least squares regression. Our findings indicate that with appropriate calibration, handheld devices can achieve predictive accuracies comparable to benchtop instruments, despite inherently lower signal-to-noise ratios. The integration of robust calibration frameworks mitigates environmental interferences and matrix variations, facilitating reliable in-field assessment. This research highlights the immense potential of portable spectroscopic technologies to revolutionize quality control protocols within the global agricultural and food processing sectors.
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