New data on thermoluminescence of inorganic dust from herbs and spices

Abstract

Inorganic dusts from different herbs and spices are investigated in this study using both standard thermoluminescence measurements of integrated intensity versus temperature and measurements of the thermoluminescence emission spectra (intensity as a function of both temperature and wavelength). The importance of particular minerals in the composition of glow peaks detected is discussed. Thermoluminescence emission spectra of the samples studied reveal (i) the presence of a broad high-intensity signal in the red to infra-red spectral region in all irradiated polymineral dusts; (ii) the hitherto unsuspected importance of calcite in the polymineral fractions of the dust; (iii) the existence of high-temperature unbleachable peaks from the silicate fraction in the orange to near infra-red portions of the emission spectrum; and (iv) the potential for quantification of absorbed dose. Discrimination between irradiated and un-irradiated spices appears to be feasible.

Thermoluminescence parameters and kinetics of irradiated inorganic dust collected from black peppers

“…Chemical analysis of the material indicated the presence of quartz, feldspars and clay minerals in all of the dust samples studied. These results conWrm earlier Wndings Calderón et al, 1995Calderón et al, , 1994. The results in Table 1 of clay minerals are qualitative.…”

“…It appears not possible to relate the TL emission of the presence to a particular mineral. Such dust samples consist commonly of quartz, feldspars, diVerent kinds of clay minerals and carbonates Calderón et al, 1995;Calderón et al, 1994;Sanderson, Slater, & Cairns, 1989). The character (i.e., shape, emission wavelength, intensity) of a TL glow curve is critically dependent upon both the nature of the phosphor and the defects within it.…”

Qualitative and quantitative thermoluminescence analysis on irradiated oregano

“…Among the physical identification methods, the thermoluminescence (TL) is suitable for food containing silicate minerals as contaminants (Bayram & Delincée, 2004;Kiyak, 1995;Oduko & Spyrou, 1990;Raffi et al, 2000;Sanderson, Slater, & Cairns, 1989), such as herbs (Calderó n et al, 1995;Khan & Delincée, 1995), spices (Sharifzadeh & Sohrabpour, 1993), seafood (Pinnioja, 1993), dry fruits (Khan, Bhatti, & Delincée, 2002), potatoes (Kwon, Jeong, & Chung, 2002).…”

Dose dependence and fading effect of the thermoluminescence signals in γ-irradiated paprika

“…These mineral phases are also typical in other herbs and spices (oregano, mint, sage, etc) previously studied in the laboratory of Universidad Auto noma of Madrid (Correcher et al 1992 ;Caldero n et al 1995) and it is supposed they may contribute to give a good TL response because all of them can act as good TL dosimeters (Horowitz 1984 ;Aitken 1985). …”