NEW Case Study: Real-time Chlorophyll Fluorescence Enabling Higher Quality Palm Oil During Production

March 31, 2025

Researchers have developed and validated a novel approach for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of palm oil quality during the milling process using chlorophyll fluorescence spectroscopy. This method leverages chlorophyll’s photo-response properties to directly probe palm oil quality without disrupting the production line. The technique integrates a sensor that detects changes in chlorophyll’s fluorescence, providing immediate feedback on key quality parameters such as fruit freshness and maturity. The results show a high correlation coefficient of 0.88 between the chlorophyll-based measurements and American Oil Chemists’ Society measurements, indicating accurate and reliable real-time monitoring. This fluorescence technique provides a significant improvement in quality control, offering a non-invasive and more efficient way to monitor palm oil quality throughout production.

 

In the development of the chlorophyll detection system for palm oil quality monitoring, Wavelength Electronics provided critical components that ensured the stability and accuracy of the system’s optical measurements. The precise control of light emission and constant current was essential for detecting chlorophyll photo-response effectively.

Researchers utilized the WLD33ND Laser Driver from Wavelength Electronics to manage the drive current of the LED light source.  Its compact size, current stability, and as low as zero leakage current were crucial for maintaining stable and consistent light emission, which is vital for accurate chlorophyll measurements. As LEDs are very sensitive to drive current and voltage fluctuations, the WLD33ND driver reduces variation in supplying power to the LED light source.

Additionally, the WLD33ND-2AEV Evaluation Board for the WLD33ND Driver facilitated rapid prototyping and integration of the LED and its driver into the oil monitoring system. This streamlined integration was important for optimizing the LED modulation parameters and ensuring reliable performance during real-time monitoring.

Wavelength Electronics’ components played a pivotal role in achieving the necessary precision and stability for the inline sensing system, demonstrating the importance of fully-featured controllers, engineering expertise, and responsive tech support for high-tech researchers and manufacturers in a wide variety of applications.

The complete case study is available as CS-LD12.