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Recent Developments In The Application Of X-Ray Microanalysis To The Study Of Food Systems, B. E. Brooker

Food Structure

Low temperature scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with X-ray microanalysis can be used to study not only the internal structure of intact bulk food systems but also the distribution of their constitutive chemical elements. However, the considerable practical problems that are usually encountered when performing X-ray analysis on frozen samples include: a) the controlled deposition of a good quality carbon film to prevent charging, b) producing digital elemental distribution maps of elements whose X-ray spectral energy peaks partially or completely overlap and c) controlling the plane of fracture through the specimen and ensuring that the resulting topography allows meaningful analysis …