Sample Preparation and Compositional Analysis

Sample Preparation

AnalysisInstrument(s)Purpose
Defatting
  • Gred S. Carver Press
  • Solvent Defatting
To remove fat prior to protein extraction
Milling
  • Fritsch Pulversiette ball mill
  • UDY cyclone sample mill
To reduce particle size to improve protein extraction
Freeze Drying
  • Harvest Right Tray freeze dryer
  • Flask freeze dryers (Thermo Electron Corp, LABCONCO, VIRTIS)
To remove moisture through sublimation
Evaporation
  • Clevenger distillation
  • BuCHI R124 RotoVapor with condenser
To concentrate a sample prior to further assays

 

 Compositional Analysis

AnalysisInstrument(s)Purpose
Protein Content
  • LECO FP 828
  • BuCHI Kjeldahl with digestion, scrubber, and distillation unit
To measure protein content of solids and liquids
Ash Content
  • Thermo Scientific Thermolyne muffle furnace
To measure ash content
Moisture Content
  • Lab-Line Squaroid Duo-Vac moisture oven
  • Karl Fischer moisture analyzer
To measure moisture content
Water Activity
  • AquaLab CX-2 water activity meter
To measure water activity
Fat Content
  • Mojonnier Bros Co. Mojonnier unit
To measure fat content
Starch and Fiber Content
  • Megazyme Inc. kits: total starch, total dietary fiber, starch damage & amylopectin:amylase
To determine key starch characteristics
Identification of Fiber Components
  • HPAEC Analysis (High Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography) with a Pulsed Amperometric Detector
To analyze and quantify neutral sugars and uronic acids from dietary fiber (insoluble and soluble) fractions

 

Carver press

Carver Press  

 

UDY Cyclone mill

UDY Cyclone Mill 

 

freeze drier

Freeze Drier

 

Lucy at the Leco.
LECO Protein Analyzer