LASER CLASSIFICATION OF OLIVE FRUITS DURING MATURITY ACCORDING TO OPTICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

The aim of this study was measuring and determination of the optical properties of olive maturity stages (Arbquina variety) using visible laser with 543.5 nm with power 4 mW. The obtained results were as follows: a) The intensity reflection percentages 1.36, 1.0 and 0.51% or absorption percentages 98.64, 99 and 99.49% not accepted for stages 1,2 and 3 respectively. Also, reflection percentage of 0.42% or absorption percentage of 99.58% for stage 5 was refused, b) The intensity reflection percentage 0.47% or the absorption percentage 99.53% was indicator to the best maturity index (2.65) of olive variety. This is considering optical properties instead of ideal maturity index to determine harvesting time., d) Stage 1 was high reflection intensity percentage or low absorption intensity percentage followed with high moisture content and low oil content percentages. Meanwhile, stage 5 with low reflection intensity percentage or high absorption intensity percentage was of low moisture content and high oil content percentages. So, the stage 4 was considered suitable for oil extracting, because of low moisture content 40.41 % and high oil content 19.22 %. It was standard to identify olive maturity stages to get high oil percentage according to optical properties.