Quantitative determination of the composition of individual pea seeds by fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy

Photoacoustic detection used in conjunction with multivariate partial least squares calibration showed a good predictive ability for the major components (starch, protein, lipid) of a single pea seed. Minimal sample preparation was required. The error of prediction achieved by photoacoustic spectroscopy was, for most components, close to the standard error of wet chemical methods but the technique had the advantage of a shorter analysis time and retained seed viability.