Mobile TC (trailer)

Computed tomography (CT) allows us to see, in a non-invasive way, the composition of materials or products. For this reason, it can be applied to live animals in order to carry out genetic improvement studies, growth curves, studies on fat deposition according to diet, genetics, sex, age, etc. It can also be applied to animal carcasses (or pieces) to obtain their tissue composition, as well as other relevant quality characteristics such as fat and muscle thickness, areas, volumes, etc. In this sense, the technology is applied as a reference system for calibrating pig carcass classification equipment on the slaughter line. CT also has significant potential for the optimization of food processes, since it is a non-destructive technology that allows the evaluation of the same product throughout the entire process. The fact that the salt and water content in a given area can be predicted makes CT very useful for optimizing salting and curing processes and for predicting their microbiological safety. It can also be used to optimize freezing processes, among others. The X-rays emitted by CT equipment lose part of their initial energy when passing through tissues. This energy attenuation is directly related to the density of the matter, producing images with greater contrast as its density increases. This allows images to be obtained where the different tissues can be differentiated and different quality parameters related to them can be obtained (fat and lean thicknesses, area, volumes, fat and lean content, etc.). This is why it is a very useful technology in terms of the quality of the carcass and pieces. In addition, salt has a higher density than meat and appears in the images with greater contrast. Therefore, curing processes can be easily evaluated using this technology. IRTA offers computed tomography to support the entire agri-food sector with a mobile CT, installed inside a truck, which allows this technology to be applied in any industry.

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Provisional Contacts

Maria Font i Furnols | Responsible |  maria.font@irta.cat  | 934674040 |  ORCID 

Responsible

Maria Font i Furnols |  maria.font@irta.cat  | 934674040 |  ORCID  

Area Manager

Joan Manel Albacete Sancho |  joanmanel.albacete@irta.cat  | 934674040

Maria Font i Furnols | Responsible |  maria.font@irta.cat  | 934674040 |  ORCID 

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Equipments & Services Offered

The installation is located in a trailer that has dimensions of 13.5 x 2.60 m2 with a height of 4 m. It is a mobile unit in which three main areas can be distinguished: Front spaces: technical room on two levels (upper for air conditioning machines, and lower for the platform and warehouse auxiliary battery system). Central room: Scanner room or controlled area. All its walls are plumbed. Rear room: Room or control area. For the operation of the scanner, sample storage and work. All rooms are air-conditioned according to the needs of each area.

The mobile equipment is located on the Camps i Armet farm in Cruïlles, Monells and Sant Sadurní de l'Heura (Baix Empordà) at the IRTA site in Monells, although, being mobile, it can be moved wherever needed. Applications: in genetic improvement, calibration of carcass classification equipment, applications in animal nutrition, monitoring of ham curing and microbiological prediction. Other applications of computed tomography in the agri-food sector may be the following: support in the design and development of new processes, optimization of meat and fish processing processes with low salt content, evaluation of the quality of the final product, prediction of the microbiological quality of ham, control of drying processes, anomalies and maturation in foods (meat products, fish, fruits, cheeses, etc.), improvement of productivity and automation, improvement of the quality of processed products, study of freezing/thawing processes, study of water gradients in different products, etc.

Quality

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RIS3CAT domains & other

RIS3CAT Domains
CERCA GINYS Categories

GINYS-IRTA-001

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Open

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