Digital colorometry using smartphones in rapid sugar color control

An important controllable parameter in the sugar industry is the color of sugar due to different groups of coloring substances formed during technological processes in production. In the classical methodology it is supposed to use a combination of refractometry and photocolorimetry methods. The paper proposes to use a more modern method - digital colorometry using smartphones for registration and processing of the analytical signal. The proposed method includes a simpler and more express way of sample preparation of the studied samples. Five samples of sugar purchased in a retail network were used as objects of analysis. Three of them were lump sugar, two samples were crystalline sugar, one sample was cane sugar. According to the data obtained during the analysis, the color in ICUMSA units of two sugar samples meets the declared category, and two samples have values exceeding the norms of color in their category. Cane sugar is expected to have high color values. The results obtained are in agreement with the data obtained from the photocolorimeter. This confirms the possibility of using the proposed methodology to determine the color of sugar. Mobility of the system and simplicity of registration of colorometric characteristics in combination with expressiveness and cheapness determine the prospects of using this method not only in factory laboratories, but also outside laboratories, in storage and sales places. In addition, it should be noted the convenience of documenting and storing electronic images in the form of files, their statistical processing and transmission over the Internet to any laboratory or service.