Advances in Raman spectroscopy and imaging techniques for quality and safety inspection of horticultural products

Authors: Qin, Jianwei - Tony Qin; Kim, Moon; Chao, Kuanglin - Kevin Chao; DHAKAL, SAGAR - Us Forest Service (FS); CHO, BYOUNG-KWAN - Chungnam National University; LOHUMI, SANTOSH - Chungnam National University; MO, CHANGEYEUN - Korean Rural Development Administration; PENG, YANKUN - China Agricultural University; HUANG, MIN - Jiangnan University

Submitted to: Postharvest Biology and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/2018
Publication Date: 1/1/2019
Citation: Qin, J., Kim, M.S., Chao, K., Dhakal, S., Cho, B., Lohumi, S., Mo, C., Peng, Y., Huang, M. 2019. Advances in Raman spectroscopy and imaging techniques for quality and safety inspection of horticultural products. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 149:101-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2018.11.004.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2018.11.004

Interpretive Summary: Driven by increasing interests from both academia and industry during the past decade, Raman technology has been evolved rapidly in the agricultural area to meet the needs for food analysis. This paper presents the Raman technology for inspecting quality and safety of horticultural products. Attention is paid to introduction to general Raman spectroscopy and imaging techniques and demonstration for particular uses in evaluation of the horticultural products. The main topics include Raman scattering principles, Raman measurement techniques, Raman measurement instruments, and Raman data analysis methods. Common practices and applications for assessing quality and safety of the horticultural products are also reviewed to reflect the current status and recent advance of the Raman techniques. This paper provides fundamental and practical information for the state-of-the-art Raman technology, which will benefit researchers who have interest in developing and using the Raman techniques for safety and quality applications of food and agricultural products.

Technical Abstract: This paper gives an overview of Raman technology for inspecting quality and safety of horticultural products. Emphasis is put on introduction and demonstration of Raman spectroscopy and imaging techniques for practical uses to assess the horticultural products. Raman scattering principles are presented first, followed by introduction and comparison to Raman measurement techniques, such as backscattering Raman spectroscopy, transmission Raman spectroscopy, spatially offset Raman spectroscopy, Raman chemical imaging, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, etc. Raman measurement instruments, including excitation sources, wavelength separation devices, detectors, commercial integrated and custom-developed systems, and system calibration methods, are discussed and compared. Raman data analysis methods, such as data preprocessing, spectral mixture analysis, and quantitative analysis, are presented with examples for analyzing Raman spectral and image data of selected horticultural products including tomato and carrot. Raman spectroscopy and imaging applications for quality and safety evaluation of the horticultural products are also reviewed.