Achieving the same prediction quality on different NIR spectrometers.

Abstract

NIR measurements are an established method for chemical analysis in many industries like the pharmaceutical and agricultural sector. Due to its relative ease of use and higher grade of automation NIR systems are often used in circumstances with decentral and/or multiple lines using more than one spectrometer. Whenever the same quality parameters of a product come from multiple, different instruments precautions need to be taken to minimize deviations between those. This true for any system whether it is NIR-based or relies on wet-chemistry methods like polarization, etc.  The KWS BEETROMETER is a NIR-based system that provides real-time quality parameters for sugarbeets and a direct alternative to the classical wet-chemistry based on brei. While wet-chemistry instruments are calibrated with standard samples, other ways must be used with the KWS BEETROMETER as it measures directly on freshly chopped beets – thus perishable samples. Based on more than fifteen years of experience using NIR in sugarbeet breeding, many influencing factors, for example detector and light source characteristics differing for each spectrometer, have been identified. To minimize deviations between systems protocols were developed to ensure a fair payment for both growers and sugar factories based on exact and comparable quality parameters independent of line and location.  The poster shows the many precautions and measures involved in ensuring that the KWS BEETROMETER delivers reliable results on different lines, locations and factories to each customer. This involves factors like sample preparation, validation samples as well as calibration transfer and more.