Investigations into novel electrochemical technology for boar taint detection and vitamin analysis

Westmacott, Kelly

Abstract

This thesis presents the evaluation of the novel electrochemical sensor and biosensor technology developed for the direct analysis of boar taint compounds in adipose tissue (European Patent 2966441). Gas chromatographic methods and extraction procedures were adapted for the evaluation of the novel sensor technology. The methodologies for the non-destructive sensor technology were evaluated by analysing stored porcine adipose tissue, the samples were subsequently analysed by the destructive gas-chromatographic methodologies for comparison. The results from two analytical methods correlated well for both compounds of interest in a laboratory environment. Consequently, the sensor and biosensor were integrated into a dual system and evaluated in the laboratory. The dual electrochemical system was optimised for simultaneous measurement. The prototype was taken to an abattoir, the subcutaneous adipose tissue of carcasses were analysed online then the section was removed and stored before analysis via the laboratory based extraction and gas-chromatographic analysis procedures. The quantitative data correlation indicates that this technology is viable for its proposed industrial application.
Other endogenous compounds in boar tissue were also identified prior to sample analysis during a literature review. The reported electrochemical behaviour and concentration ranges of these compounds were used to identify compounds which could result in the novel technology displaying false positive or false negative responses. During this preliminary investigation the identified compounds did not respond at the novel technology in a similar manner to the analytes of interest under physiological conditions. However, under basic electrolyte conditions an anodic response for 3 B-vitamin compounds was observed. As a secondary study to the boar taint analysis a simple voltammetric assay was developed to exploit this behaviour and applied to the analysis of a food product and pharmaceutical supplement.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jan 25, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 6, 2021
• Keywords: Androstenone, Skatole, Adipose
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/853351
• Contract Date: Jan 25, 2019
• Award Date: Jan 25, 2019