Optimization of NIR Calibration Models for Multiple Processes in the Sugar Industry

Abstract

[Abstract] The measurements of Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy, combined with data analysis techniques, are widely used for quality control in food production processes.

This paper presents a methodology to optimize the calibration models of NIR spectra in four different stages in a sugar factory. The models were designed for quality monitoring, particularly °Brix and Sucrose, both common parameters in the sugar industry.

A three stage optimization methodology, including pre-processing selection, feature selection and support vector machines regression metaparameters tuning, were applied to the spectral data divided by repeated cross-validation. Global models were optimized while endeavoring to ensure they are able to estimate both quality parameters with a single calibration, for the four steps of the process.

The proposed models improve the prediction for the test set (unseen data) compared to previously published models, resulting in a more accurate quality assessment of the intermediate products of the process in the sugar industry.