A variety of analytical techniques are used in the food industry to determine the nutritional value of milk-based powders (e.g., infant formula), which consist of milk powder with added nutrients. Examples of nutrients found in these “fortified” milk powders include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) is used near the production line to control the elemental content of milk-based powders. A fast and straightforward sample preparation combined with short measurement times help to optimise production processes and minimise turn-around time. In this application note, the elements that are monitored with EDXRF include Na, Mg, P, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn.
Na and Mg remain challenging elements for EDXRF due to their lower sensitivity. Here, we show that substantial improvement in their detection efficiency can be made when using a silicon drift detector (SDD) with a graphene window.
