|
Journal of Microwave Power
and Electromagnetic Energy (JMPEE) |
|
|
TITLE |
Dielectric
Properties of Honeydew Melons and Correlation with Quality [PDF] |
|
AUTHORS |
Wen-chuan Guo, Stuart O.
Nelson, Samir Trabelsi, and 2007 41 2 45-55 |
|
|
|
|
YEAR |
|
|
VOLUME |
|
|
ISSUE |
|
|
PAGES |
|
|
Abstract Dielectric properties of three
honeydew melon cultivars, grown and harvested to provide a range of
maturities, were measured with an open-ended coaxial-line probe and impedance
analyzer over the frequency range from 10 MHz to 1.8 GHz. Probe measurements were made on the
external surface of the melons and also on tissue samples from the edible
internal tissue. Moisture content and
soluble solids content (SSC) were measured for internal tissue samples, and
SSC (sweetness) was used as the quality factor for correlation with the
dielectric properties. Individual
dielectric constant and loss factor correlations with SSC were low, but a
high correlation was obtained between the SSC and permittivity from a
complex-plane plot of dielectric constant and loss factor, each divided by
SSC, for both the external surface and internal tissue measurements. However, SSC prediction from the dielectric
properties by these relationships was not as high as expected. Permittivity data (dielectric constant and
loss factor) for the melons are presented graphically to show their
relationships with frequency for external surface and internal tissue
measurements. A dielectric relaxation
for the external surface measurements, which is attributable to bound water
and Maxwell-Wagner relaxations, is also illustrated. Coefficients of determination for
complex-plane plots, moisture content and SSC relationship, and penetration
depth are also shown graphically.
Further studies are needed for determining the practicality of sensing
melon quality from the dielectric properties. |
|