Total Fat Determination in Foodstuffs
Traditional fat extraction methods are very labor intensive and time-consuming. Our ETHOS X performs determination of fat content in milk products simultaneously in just 90 minutes, having equivalent results with those obtained by reference fat determination methods.
Total Determination of fat content in just 90 minutes!
Traditional methods lead to the use of large amounts of solvents to remove fat from a sample matrix, resulting in low cost-effectiveness.
As an example, conventional fat extraction of pretreated cheese usually requires 3 hours and over 100 mL of solvent per sample. The standard fat extraction methods are not efficient in matter of cost and time, also exposing laboratory technicians to dangerous solvents.
To overcome these limitations, Milestone has developed a fast yet accurate microwave-based technology, which allows the chemist to carry out the simultaneous determination of fat content in 12 milk and milk products samples in just 90 minutes, with equivalent results of those obtained with reference techniques like Rose-Gottlieb method, Weibull-Stoldt or Schmid-Bondzynski-Ratzlaff method. The main advantages of this technology include:
The analytical procedure for The analytical procedure for flavors and fragrances extraction from plants or spices comprises two steps: extraction by steam distillation or hydro-distillation, and analysis by GC or GC-MS. While the analysis step requires just few minutes, extraction takes several hours, using a standard procedure based on the Clevenger (1928 year!).
To address these limitations, Milestone has developed the new ETHOS X for the solvent-less extraction of natural products. It takes advantage of the unique microwave selective heating mechanism. The internal heating of the water within the sample distends its cells and leads to rupture of the glands and oleiferous receptacles. This process thus frees essential oil, and the flavors extracts is evaporated by the in-situ water of the plant material.
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● 12 samples simultaneously
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● 75% solvent reduction
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● Up to 10 gram of sample amount
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● Combined hydrolysis and extraction
Product Specialist
Mikael Alfredsson
Perfomances Comparison
Compare the performances of the ETHOS X microwave-based technology to those of the Reference Method
Hydrolysis & Extraction
Up to 12 samples can be analyzed simultaneously, with a typical sample amount up to 10 gram. 10 mL of diluted acid and 25 mL of solvent are used for most matrices. The combined hydrolysis and extraction process takes place at 125°C and requires approximately 50 minutes or less.
Temperature is monitored and controlled in each and every vessel by using a unique combination of fiber optic and infrared temperature sensors. The ETHOS X built-in magnetic stirrer assures an even heating and temperature uniformity in all vessels, as well as intensive mixing between the aqueous and the solvent phases.
Solvent Evaporation
A measured aliquot of the solvent with the extracted fat is evaporated in disposable cups, located in a dedicated rotor, in just 15 minutes.
The evaporation process takes place under controlled temperature and vacuum conditions, to avoid the thermal degradation of the fat content. At the completion of the evaporation, the fat content is immediately weighed on a balance which is directly interfaced with the ETHOS X, taking advantage of the extremely short cooling time of the disposable cups. The instrument operating software automatically calculates the fat content and all the statistics associated with the analysis of the 12 samples analyzed
High Technical Performance
Microwave hardware
The ETHOS X microwave cavity has a volume in excess of 70 liters, by far the largest currently available. With an installed power of 1900 Watt, the ETHOS X is the most powerful microwave platform system available for extraction. A rotating diffuser evenly distributes the microwaves throughout the cavity. A magnetic stirrer is built-in in the ETHOS X system. It is designed to ensure vigorous stirring of the solutions in all vessels. Finally, the ETHOS X actually acts as a fume hood, as it incorporates a powerful exhaust system.
User Interface
The new Milestone ETHOS X is equipped with the most advanced yet easy to use reaction temperature and pressure sensors for complete quality control of the extraction conditions. It is controlled via a compact terminal with an easy-to-read, bright, full-color, touchscreen display. The terminal runs a completely new user-friendly, icon-driven, multi-language software to provide easy control of the microwave run.
