Comparing the Sensitivity of Spot Test Method and a Novel Computer Vision System for Iron Detecting in Fortificated Flours

Controlling of added iron to fortified flours is very important, and the common method is spot test inaccurate method. In this study, we invented a new method based on a computer vision system. We also compared the accuracy of this method and the spot test with atomic absorption spectroscopy. In new method, ferrous sulfate particles in the samples were oxidized, and some red spots were formed on the surface of samples. The captured images from samples were changed to binary images and analyzed using the Clemex Vision 3.5 software. After processing of image, the number of colored spots and the area of spots were determined. The calibration curves were drawn, and in order to compare the sensitivity of the new method with spot test, 33 samples were selected randomly, and the amounts of added iron were detected using new method, spot test, and atomic absorption. We used t test and linear regression tests with a confidence interval of 95 % to compare the results. Results showed that there was a higher correlation (R 2 = 0.988, p < 0.001) between new method and atomic absorption method in comparison with spot test (R 2 = 0.501, p < 0.001). Therefore, spot test and atomic absorption can be replaced by an accurate but inexpensive method.