NMR Oil Content Analyzer

Measuring the oil content of seeds is important for two reasons: firstly, for non-destructive measurement of single seeds, to select high oil content specimens for propagation, secondly, for bulk measurement of oil content for trading or processing.

What is NMR is used for?

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry (NMR), is used for determining oil, protein and moisture content in seeds of various oil crops. The instrument is calibrated for several oil crops including soybean, camelina, canola, meadowfoam, and euphorbia, and can be calibrated for other species as needed. Tests can be performed in whole seeds or meals.

The need for NMR

With the diversification of crops in Oregon and the search for crops to be used for biodiesel production, the need to determine the oil content of such crops has emerged. In addition, the meal in some oil seeds such as soybean is used for feed after extracting the oil and it is useful to determine the protein content in the meal as well as in the seeds. Both the USDA and Canadian Grain Commission use NMR analyzer in determining oil seed content in oil crops.
In the past, researchers have had to send their oil seeds out of the state for oil and protein analysis. The Niumag’s recent acquisition of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer means this service is now available in-state. This provides an advantage to Northwest researchers and commercial producers both in testing turnaround and in the availability of the equipment and service for conducting customized research.

The principle of the test

The oil content test estimates the amount of oil that can be extracted from seeds using an industrial extraction method. Direct pressing extracts 90-92%, whereas solvent extraction remove 97-99% of oils contained in seeds.
The benchtop NMR technique measures the resonance energy absorbed by hydrogen atoms in the sample. Usually oil contents are expressed based on a specific moisture basis (e.g., 8.5%, 10%, etc.).

Sample size and test period

Sample size is 5-10 grams for all analyses (not for each test), i.e., for oil, protein and moisture. We can calibrate the NMR for a smaller amount of seeds (i.e., 1-2 grams), if needed. It takes 24 hours to complete the test from the time of receiving the sample. The NMR is a non-destructive method, so seeds can be returned if needed. Please enclose the sample in a moisture-proof bag.

Why Only Two Relaxation Times

The relaxation times T1 and T2 were described phenomenologically by Felix Bloch at al representing changes in the net magnetization (M) after RF-stimulation. T1 reflects changes along the direction (z-) of the main magnetic field; T2 reflects transverse (xy-) behavior. There are only two relaxation times because the directions “longitudinal” and “transverse” seem to encompass the cardinal directions in three-dimensional space. The transverse (x- and y-) directions are generally arbitrary and indistinguishable so only a single T2 value is usually applied.
However, some tissues and materials have T2 anisotropy, meaning their observed T2 values differ depending on orientation, so I suppose you could say there are more than one transverse relaxation time for these substances, but they are still called T2’s.
Additionally, in the rotating frame another type of relaxation time is frequency distinguished, T1ρ (“T1-rho”). This relaxation time is somewhat of a hybrid between T1 and T2 that can be measured in when a spin-locking pulse is applied to a system. See our paper from 1996 for further explanation:
Ulmer JL, Mathews VP, Hamilton CA, Elster AD, Moran PR. Magnetization transfer or spin-lock? An investigation of off-resonance saturation pulse imaging with varying frequency offsets. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1996.
I have never heard of the “duality” explanation above; it is not correct at all and should be abandoned/discouraged.
PQ001 MRI Contrast Agent Analyzer

Product Description:

The PQ001 NMR Analyzer was launched in 2008. After years of upgrading, PQ001 has many advantages such as small size, high precision, good repeatability, good stability and excellent cost/benefit performance. Based on these advantages, PQ001 has been widely used in MRI Contrast Agent Researches.

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Basic Parameters:

• Magnet: permanent magnet
• Magnetic field intensity:0.5±0.08T
• Probe: Ø15mm
• Size (L x W x H): 1685mm×520mm×386mm
• Weight: 134Kg

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Functions:

• Relaxation analysis of T2*,T2 and T1

T1 and T2 effects

To the right are images of a brain tumor with intrinsically long T1 and T2 values having opposite intensities on T1- and T2-weighted images. To understand this “paradox”, you must realize that a pixel’s “brightness” or “darkness” on an MR image is directly related to the magnitude of the detected MR signal. The magnitude of the MR signal after an RF-pulse is in turn, dependent on two factors:

1. The size of Mz, the z-component of tissue magnetization (M) before the RF-pulse.
2. The size of Mxy, the transverse components of M after the RF-pulse (when the signal is recorded).

T1 reflects the length of time it takes for regrowth of Mz back toward its initial maximum value (Mo). Tissues with short T1’s recover more quickly than those with long T1’s. Their Mz values are larger, producing a stronger signal and brighter spot on the MR image.

T2 reflects the length of time it takes for the MR signal to decay in the transverse plane. A short T2 means that the signal decays very rapidly. So substances with short T2’s have smaller signals and appear darker than substances with longer T2 values.

MiniEDU20 MRI system is Niumag’s original product, first used as an integral part of other products. After nearly 10 years of enhancements, its design and functionality are comprehensive and mature. MiniEDU20 can be used by physics lecturers to demonstrate NMR experiments and imaging professionals to teach courses, so that multiple students gain experience in using MR technology without needing to operate expensive instruments.

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Basic parameters:

1.Magnet type: permanent magnet

2.Magnetic field intensity: 0.5±0.08T

3.Probe coil: Ø10mm

4.Weight: 49.8Kg

Applications

1. NMR/MRI basic theory (Physics)
2. MRI system (Electronic information engineering)
3. NMR/MRI theoretic experiments
4. MR Imaging technical experiments

What is a Free Induction Decay?

In magnetic resonance, free induction decay (or FID) is the temporal profile of induction of sample placed in the magnetic field in the absence of external radio-frequency (in NMR or microwave frequency in EPR) irradiation after some irradiation has been applied and then interrupted.

Also, spectrocopists often refer to FID as a recording of the actual FID signal sampled in time. FID is almost never sampled directly as larmor precession frequecies of nuclear and electron are too high to be sampled that way.

Oscillations in the recorded FID’s occur at frequencies equal the difference between the larmor frequency and the radio- (or microwave) frequencies of the applied pulses.

In their famous NMR analyzer experiments of 1946, Bloch, Purcell, and colleagues employed a continuous wave (CW) technique using a fixed frequency RF field (B1) while the main magnetic field (Bo) was swept through resonance. They observed transient fluctuations in coil voltage referred to as “resonance absorption” by Purcell and the “nuclear induction signal” by Bloch.

Two years later, Bloembergen, Purcell, and Pound noted that immediately after the system had passed through resonance, small oscillations appeared on either side of the main absorption tracing that were named the “wiggles”.

About the same time, Erwin Hahn, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana, was investigating pulsed NMR techniques. In pulsed methods the main magnetic field is held constant while an RF-field at the Larmor frequency is pulsed on and off. Immediately after the RF pulse Hahn observed a transient oscillation he recognized was equivalent to Bloembergen’s “wiggles”. Hahn called this signal the “nuclear induction decay” or “free induction,” which today is commonly referred to as the free induction decay (FID).
As described in a previous Q&A the nuclear induction signal arises as the net magnetization (M) vector precesses around the z-axis (the direction of Bo). The transverse components of M generate a current in the receiver coil based on the Faraday-Lenz Law of electromagnetism. The signal is a sine wave oscillating at the Larmor frequency (ωo).
Free induction decay (FID)
The NMR signal, however, does not persist forever. The initially coherent transverse components of M dephase as a result of both magnetic field inhomogeneities and intrinsic T2 mechanisms, incorporated in the concept of T2*-decay. The resulting signal is the FID, a damped sine wave of the following form

[sin ωot ] e-t/T2*

Although it is convenient to think about an FID arising from the action of a 90° pulse, an FID will be created by an RF pulse of any flip angle because some component of longitudinal magnetization is always tipped into the transverse plane. (The only theoretical exception to this rule might be a 180° pulse, which in principle should only invert the longitudinal magnetization and not generate any transverse components. In practice, however, all 180° pulses are imperfect, and therefore always produce FID signals.)

The FID is just one of four basic types of NMR signals produced in different ways.

NMR Crosslink Density Analyzer

Combined with the sample temperature control system, VTMR20-010V-T NMR analyzer can control the environmental temperature to research change in physical properties of samples over a wide range of temperatures and rates of change. It can be used for food, energy, organic materials and other areas of research.

Functions

1. Rapid cross-link density determination of rubbers and other polymers;
2. Relaxation analysis of T2*,T2 and T1;
3. Determination of glass transition temperature;
4. Quantitative analysis of water phase with varying -temperature.

NMR Application Indexes

1. Minimum detection limit: 10 mg of water;
2. Test range of moisture: 0.88 % – 100 %;
3. The sample temperature range: 35 0C – 150 0C(standard)/ 35 0C – 2000C (advanced), with precision ± 0.3 0C;
4. The correlation coefficient of crosslink density between benchtop NMR method and swelling method > 0.99;
5. Repeatability: RSD < 2%, reliability: RSD < 10 %. RSD: relative standard deviation
Application Direction
Determination of cross-link density of polymers (especially rubbers);
Quality control and assurance in plolymer production;
Quality inspection in polymer aging process;
Study in rubber vulcanization process and optimization of production conditions;
Research on molecular mobility of solids, semi-rigid polymers, gels, emulsions and liquids;
Imaging and determining the moisture in solid matrix;
Detection of viscosity, state and process during the epoxy resin and rubber vulcanizing;
Investigation in adhesion and activity of water of the samples;
Determination of plasticizer or rubber content of the polymers;
Determination of rubber content of the copolymer or blends;
Determination of relative content of copolymers;
Determination of solid content in rubber latex;
Research on critical water and hydration;
Rheological research on viscosity, density and the stability of materials .

Application Examples

NMR Solid Fat Content Analyzer

The determination of solid fat content (SFC) by NMR analysis is recognized by the international standards. Niumag has been dedicated to research and develop NMR PQ001 SFC Analyzer which offers the determination of SFC values and presentation of the melting curve with non-destructive, fast and accurate measurements.

Solid Fat Content (SFC) is generally accepted analysis of fats and oils in the food industry. The traditional extraction methods for SFC determination are slow, irreproducible and require additional chemicals. Direct measurements of SFC by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) provides quick and accurate determination of SFC value. NMR as method of fats and oils analysis is included in the following international standards:

• AOCS Cd 16b-93 revised in 2000 (in USA)
• ISO 8292 (in Europe)

Solid Fat Content determination by benchtop NMR is based on direct ratio measuring between the solid and liquid parts of the sample.

The PQ001 SFC NMR Analyzer was launched in 2008. After years of upgrading, PQ001 has many advantages such as small size, high precision, good repeatability, good stability and excellent cost/benefit performance. Based on these advantages, PQ001 has been widely used in the determination of Solid Fat Content.

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Basic Parameters:

• Magnet: permanent magnet
• Magnetic field intensity: 0.5±0.08T
• Probe: Ø10mm
• Size (L x W x H): 1685mm×520mm×386mm;
• Weight: 134Kg;

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Functions:

• Determination of solid fat content(Cocoa butter, Margarine and butter etc.)

PQ001 Spin Finish NMR Analyzer for Textile Fiber

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as an effective non-destructive inspection analysis technology, has been widely used in many fields, such as biomedical, chemical industry, petroleum energy and materials science.
Since the first time the NMR signal was discovered in 1945, more than ten scientists have won the Nobel Prize because of their great contributions to NMR development. NMR is now one of the most advanced technologies in the world which have extensive development prospects.
About 25 years ago, NMR was first used to study molecular structure and dynamics of cross-linked polymers. Based on De Genne and Kimmich’s fundamental theoretical and experimental research, Gronski and others did further research on crosslink density and the network structure of rubber. All of their research proved the consistency of the results given by the NMR method and the traditional methods such as swelling and mechanical test method.
With the addition of commercial applications with NMR microscopy and the development of parameter-selection imaging and image analytical technique, both detailed spatial information of morphological structures and image analysis reflecting material properties as molecular dynamics, crosslink density, aging, swelling, etc., all these can be given by NMR. MicroMR-CL was developed for polymer studies. It has been widely used in a local domestic research institutes, and it has made excellent contributions to the polymer industry.
PQ001 Spin Finish NMR Analyzer for Oil Content Examination of Textile Fiber

Product Description

PQ001 NMR Analyzer was launched in 2008. After years of upgrading, PQ001 has many advantages such as small size, high precision, good repeatability, good stability and excellent cost/benefit characteristics. Based on these advantages, PQ001 has been widely used in the determination of oil content of textile fiber.

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Basic Parameters:

• Magnet type: permanent magnet
• Magnetic field intensity: 0.5±0.08T
• Probe: Ø25mm
• Size (LxWxH): 1685mm×520mm×386mm
• Weight: 134Kg

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Functions:

• Rapid determination of Spin Finish content of textile fiber