Browsing by Author "Abayomi, Louise Anike"

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    Development of a disposable pyruvate biosensor to determine pungency in onions (Allium cepa L.)
    (Elsevier, 2006-05-15) Abayomi, Louise Anike; Terry, Leon A; White, S. F.; Warner, P. J.
    A disposable prototype pyruvate biosensor was constructed using pyruvate oxidase immobilised on mediated meldolas blue electrodes to determine pungency in onions (Allium cepa L.). The optimum operating potential was +150 mV (versus Ag/AgCl). A strong correlation between the biosensor response and untreated onion juice of known pyruvate concentration 2–12 μmol/g fresh weight (FW) was demonstrated. The biosensor was able to differentiate between low and high pungency onions. The detection limit using 1 unit of pyruvate oxidase was 1–2 μmol/g FW. Optimum concentrations of co-factors TPP, FAD and MgSO4 comprising the enzyme cocktail were determined as being 0.04, 0.1 and 30 mM, respectively.
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    Disposable pyruvate biosensors for routine assessment of onion flavour
    (Cranfield University, 2007-04) Abayomi, Louise Anike; Terry, Leon A.
    The UK-grown onion sector shows strong potential for growth through new product development as consumers become increasingly aware of the health and dietary benefits of fresh onion consumption. Prospects for the production of new, more palatable sweet onions will be boosted by the development of improved grower diagnostics for flavour standardisation. Growers require simple-to-use on-farm diagnostics to assure flavour quality. The introduction of pungency tests has led to increased mild onion sales, however currently tests are out-sourced and as a result costly. Through this Defra- (Department for Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs) sponsored research project (HL0164), hand-held biosensor technology, adapted from the medical sector, has been developed for improved and lower cost pungency and sweetness analysis in onions. Cont/d.