Fiber Optical Sensor for Antioxidant Detection Levels in Blueberries Using Wavelength-Based LED Light Sources

Abstract

Blueberries' high antioxidant content, which includes flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids, greatly enhances their nutritional and therapeutic value. These substances are crucial targets for food quality and nutrition research because they neutralize free radicals and lower oxidative stress. However, conventional techniques for quantifying antioxidants, such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), are expensive, time-consuming, and frequently needed for destructive sample preparation. This study suggests a fiber-optical sensor (FOS) system as a unique, destructive method for identifying and measuring antioxidants in blueberries. Blueberry samples are illuminated by the system using wavelength-specific LED light sources, which are guided to and from the sample via fiber optics for interaction. Using the distinctive absorption and scattering characteristics of the compounds at particular wavelengths, the reflected or transmitted light is captured by a photodetector and evaluated to calculate antioxidant amounts. This proposed system is a useful tool for the food sector because of its many benefits, which include its capacity to offer real-time analysis, portability, and adaptability to in-field applications. This paper examines the sensor's design principles, assesses how well it performs in comparison to traditional techniques, and emphasizes how useful it could be for agricultural research and quality control.