Ultraviolet Fluorescence in the Assessment of Quality in the Mixing of Granular Material

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of using ultraviolet fluorescence to evaluate the quality of the mixing process of industrial feed. A laboratory funnel-flow mixer was used for the mixing process. The studies were carried out using three different feeds for pigs. A key component in the form of ground grains of yellow maize covered with the fluorescent substance Rhodamine B was introduced into the mixer before the mixing process began. After the illumination of the sample by UV lamps, the images were taken with a digital camera. The images were analyzed in Patan® software. The information obtained on the percentage content of the key component was used for further calculations. At the same time, the tracer content was determined using the control method (weight method). The comparison of the results obtained by the two methods (statistical comparative analysis) did not indicate significant differences. Therefore, the usefulness of the proposed method to track the share of the key component by inducing it to glow in the ultraviolet light has been proven. The introduced tracer is also one of the components of the feed, which translates into the possibility of observing the material having the characteristics of a mixed material.