Detection of prior irradiation of dried fruits by electron spin resonance (ESR)

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (1993) Vol. 55; no. 5-6; pp. 737 - 742
• Main Authors: Esteves, M.P, Andrade, M.E, Empis, J
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-08-1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cellulose; Detection; ESR; Food industries; Food irradiation; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Sugar; Detection; ESR; Sugar; Cellulose; Food irradiation; Irradiated product; Ionizing irradiation; Analysis method; Dried fruit; EPR spectrometry
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/S0969-806X(99)00304-7

Dried almonds, raisins, dates and pistachio were irradiated using either gamma radiation or electron beam, at an average absorbed dose of 5 kGy. To detect the previous irradiation different parts of the dried fruits were analyzed by ESR spectroscopy: almonds: skin; raisins: dried pulp; dates: dried pulp and stone; pistachio: nutshell. Analyses were carried out 2–3 months and 6 months after irradiation. A series of signals tentatively described as “cellulose-like”, “sugar-like” and “complex” radical were observed, and some slight differences between spectra from samples irradiated with gamma rays and electrons were evident.