Magnetic Induction Spectroscopy for Biomass Measurement: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

Background: Biomass measurement and monitoring is a challenge in a number of biotechnology processes where fast, inexpensive, and non-contact measurement techniques would be of great benefit. Magnetic induction spectroscopy (MIS) is a novel non-destructive and contactless impedance measurement technique with many potential industrial and biomedical applications. The aim of this paper is to use computer modeling and experimental measurements to prove the suitability of the MIS system developed at the University of South Wales for controlled biomass measurements. Methods: The paper reports experimental measurements conducted on saline solutions and yeast suspensions at different concentrations to test the detection performance of the MIS system. The commercial electromagnetic simulation software CST was used to simulate the measurement outcomes with saline solutions and compare them with those of the actual measurements. We adopted two different ways for yeast suspension preparation to assess the system’s sensitivity and accuracy. Results: For saline solutions, the simulation results agree well with the measurement results, and the MIS system was able to distinguish saline solutions at different concentrations even in the small range of 0–1.6 g/L. For yeast suspensions, regardless of the preparation method, the MIS system can reliably distinguish yeast suspensions with lower concentrations 0–20 g/L. The conductivity spectrum of yeast suspensions present excellent separability between different concentrations and dielectric dispersion property at concentrations higher than 100 g/L. Conclusions: The South Wales MIS system can achieve controlled yeast measurements with high sensitivity and stability, and it shows promising potential applications, with further development, for cell biology research where contactless monitoring of cellular density is of relevance.

Bioimpedance Measurement of Avocado Fruit Using Magnetic Induction Spectroscopy

“…It also works well across the 1-10 MHz bandwidth gap we identified as missing for avocado fruit in the literature. MIS has been successfully used to find the conductivity spectra of potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, bananas, and yeast-concentrations [29]- [31]. In previous work, we were able to demonstrate MIS for the first time at a near industrial-scale using a robust non-contact system designed to be operated on a fruit sorting-line [22], [32].…”

A Review on Magnetic Induction Spectroscopy Potential for Fetal Acidosis Examination

“…For the development of the MIS pH probe, the sample is assumed to be a homogeneous, linear, isotropic, resistive, and non-magnetic medium [ 58 ].…”

Magnetic Induction Tomography Spectroscopy for Structural and Functional Characterization in Metallic Materials

“…Magnetic induction spectroscopy (MIS) is a method for measuring the conductivity spectrum using a non-destructive and contactless technique [11]. The term was introduced in [12] which then has been followed by subsequent works to measure the conductivity spectrum using gradiometer coil sensors [13], utilizing differential methods [14] and signal improvement schemes [15].…”