The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIR-CSIO) has developed and transferred the technology of Precision Iodine Value Analyzer (PIVA).

What is Precision Iodine Value Analyzer?

• It is an instrument for the measurement of the degree of unsaturation (iodine value) in vegetable oils.
• This indigenous food testing equipment was recognized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on World Food Safety Day on June 7, 2021.
• It has applications in oil extraction units, quality control and assurance labs, food regulatory authorities, soaps and cosmetics, bakeries, meat industry, paint industry, biodiesel analysis, and charcoal industry.
• It is also useful in determining adulteration in edible oils and fats.

Measuring iodine value

• Iodine value is conventionally determined using manual titration and a few analytical instruments based on automated titration.
• However, these methods take a longer time to analyze, are costly, and use toxic chemicals.
• Researchers at CSIR-CSIO developed a rapid analysis technique that takes just three minutes to carry out the same analysis.
• Currently, PIVA has been calibrated and tested for coconut, sunflower, mustard, palm, rice bran, soybean, groundnut, olive oil, and ghee.
• This new development is a part of the ongoing effort to strengthen the food testing capabilities by introducing quick and advanced food testing kits.

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