Detection of Proteins using Ultraviolet Fluorescence - Ref: EWUF2018

Food manufacturing is the largest and one of the most resource intensive sectors in the world. Within this industry, cleaning of food processing equipment is a critical operation to control safety, cross contamination of allergens and maintain food quality. Currently, many cleaning processes are set up to be risk averse and consequently ‘over clean’ which wastes chemicals, energy and water, and reduces availability of production processes. A current body of work at Loughborough has identified the applicability of ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence to optimise cleaning cycles to detect how clean processing equipment is during cleaning. The feasibility of the technology has been proven at the laboratory scale but has not been optimised.

The proposed research aims to develop a better understanding of the fluorescence of proteins under exposure to UV light in order to optimise the environmental conditions for detection of specific foodstuffs during industrial cleaning. In addition, an image processing procedure is required to interpret the recorded fluorescence into information that can be used by cleaning control systems (either manual or automated).

The successful candidate will have access to a new laboratory scale set of clean-in-place tanks (100 litres) and will be expected to design and build a number of experiments to characterise protein fluorescence under UV excitation. In addition, suitable image capture technologies and processing should be established. It is highly likely that the successful outcomes from the project will be implemented within a major UK food manufacturing company during the PhD programme.

Find out more
http://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/intelligent-cleaning-system-may-save-industry-millions

http://www.processindustryinformer.com/product-update/artificially-intelligent-cleaning-system-reduce-food-manufacturers-costs/

Entry requirements
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Physics, Food Science, Chemical Engineering or a related subject.

A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Image processing, food engineering.

How to apply
All applications should be made online. Under programme name select Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. Please quote reference number: EWUF2018