Introduction

The invention measures the total antioxidant capacity of molecules or mixtures (of a hydrophilic or lipophilic nature or both) of biological liquids, food matrices, pharmaceutical and cosmetological preparations, as well as substances present in the environment, without the need for preventive chemical preparations, but using a diazocomposite as a stable radical source and a mV measurement system instead of a spectrophotometer or fluorimeter.

Technical features

The apparatus is capable of detecting the voltage when a direct current is generated from diazo-compound at 40 ° C for 20 minutes. If we add a sample with antioxidant properties to the system, a voltage variation is recorded, useful for measurement. The method ensures low execution costs (measuring and reactive apparatus) making it competitive on the market with respect to the methods currently used with optical detectors that can operate only with clear solutions and not with opaque mixtures. The sectors most affected are the agri-food industry, canning, processing and food technology, in order to test new products or compounds with antioxidant properties and thus obtain more suitable molecules against oxidative stress or increase shelf life in food. Potentially suitable also in the pharmacological, cosmetic and phytosanitary industry.

Possible Applications

• On food products and during the conservation phase of the products themselves to increase shelf-life in food;
• In the medical sector to quantify the state of general oxidation in individuals subject to oxidative stress;
• In the cosmetic field for the preparation of products whose active ingredients are subject to oxidation.

Advantages

• Very low costs;
• Use of lipophilic and / or hydrophilic matrices;
• Possibility of use for transparent and opaque biological substrates, without any chemical treatment of the samples.