Mocon clears the air with O2 test
The OX-TRAN Model 2/21 uses Mocon’s Coulox coulometric sensor to detect oxygen transmission through flat materials and packages.
Top priority
Mocon representative Guy Wray told FoodProductionDaily.com that the module is suited for packaged foods where oxygen levels are of paramount importance.
“Better barriers increase the shelf life of oxygen sensitive food,” he said.
The module can help food firms and packaging partners assure optimal shelf life. Wray told FPD that wrangling with shelf-life issues are the most common concern voiced by food professionals.
“The typical reasons they approach us with are they are not familiar with the factors that impact shelf life, they wish to increase in the shelf life of an existing product, and/or they are developing a new product and need to establish their package design and barrier will meet the required shelf life,” he said.
“They also might have changed the shape, size or barrier of an existing barrier and the shelf life of the product longer meets the requirements, and/or they have changed the package to light weight it, or move towards sustainability and they wish to maintain existing or increase the shelf life.”
Highly sensitive
The device, according to Wray, measures barrier films and packages at levels 10 times lower than any competitive instrument on the market. Calibration is not required, though NIST films can be used to verify the system is meeting precision and accuracy standards.
To operate, the user clamps flat film samples into the diffusion cell, which is then purged of residual oxygen using an oxygen-free carrier gas. Carrier gas is routed to the sensor until a stable zero has been established.
Pure oxygen then gets introduced into the outside chamber of the diffusion cell. Molecules of oxygen diffuse through the film to the inside chamber, then are conveyed to the sensor by the carrier gas.
Additionally, the company’s TruSeal cells are designed to eliminate edge leakage and offer more accurate results.
The OX-TRANS testing line are the only instruments currently available that comply with the ASTM D-3985 standard, Wray said.
The system requires no specialized hardware, beyond the OX-TRAN Modl 2/21 10x module. NIST films are available, as is PermNet software to control multiple modules from a single computer.
Wray told FPD that Mocon is working on numerous technologies geared toward use in the food industry. The OpTech-O2 Platinum O2 analyzer measures headspace, dissolved oxygen, oxygen permeation and package leak; the GreenLight bacteria system reportedly cuts count time significantly.
