While chocolate is synonymous with the month of February, we wanted to take a deeper dive into understanding the process of chocolate manufacturing. At the same time, we took this opportunity to compare the SkyScan 1272, SkyScan 1273, and Bruker’s newest instrument, the X4 Poseidon Modular Micro-CT system. All three instruments have unique benefits to offer researchers, with the Poseidon representing a major advancement as the only true multi-detector desktop micro-CT system, offering continuously variable magnification and a dual detector setup that delivers faster scanning, higher resolution, and exceptional flexibility.

X-Ray Microscopic Imaging of Cacao Fruits and Seeds

To holistically explore the process of chocolate production, we began our journey with a cacao pod imported from Ecuador. The entire pod was imaged on our SkyScan 1273 desktop micro-CT at an isotropic voxel size of 50µm. After imaging the intact pod, we broke the pod open to extract the cacao fruits and seeds which are used in the next step of the chocolate production. The fruit-covered seeds were left to ferment for a few weeks until the fruity flesh was gone and only the seeds remained. We imaged lightly roasted seeds on our SkyScan 1273, SkyScan 1272, and the brand new X4 Poseidon Modular micro-CT instruments at an isotropic voxel size of 10-11µm.

As shown from DataViewer in Figure 2, the large cacao pod contains a thick outer skin surrounding an open cavity filled with many fruits. Each of the individual fruits contains a large seed, which is actually the primary ingredient in the production of chocolate. After fermentation, roasting, and peeling, the seeds will become cacao nibs, which you may have seen at your local grocery store. The large imaging volume of the SkyScan 1273 allowed us to image the entire pod intact as it can image a sample up to 250 mm in total length.

Moving in from our overview imaging of the entire pod, Figure 3 highlights the additional features observed in the roasted cacao bean samples arising from a 5x decrease in voxel size with both the SkyScan 1272 and SkyScan 1273 desktop micro-CT systems. Both systems resolved fine pores, larger voids, and a thin, dense skin remaining on the cacao beans that will be peeled before the next step in the production of chocolate.

Using CTVox, we digitally sliced into the samples to reveal the inner structures, as shown in Figure 4. In accounting for the total rotation extent, both the SkyScan 1272 and SkyScan 1273 datasets were acquired in about the same overall time since the SkyScan 1273 dataset only used 180 degrees of rotation rather than the 360 degrees used for the SkyScan 1272 dataset. Remarkably, the X4 Poseidon coupled its high-resolution transmission X-ray source with the brand new high-speed flat panel detector to capture the entire sample volume in a matter of only 11 minutes compared to the approximately two hours used for the other SkyScan instruments. Impressively, the high-speed flat panel SCMOS detector, coupled with the X4 Poseidon’s option to manually adjust the detector distance from the X-ray source, resulted in high resolution datasets at a fraction of the time we are accustomed to expecting.

From our reconstructed SkyScan 1272 dataset, we imported the voxel-based dataset into Simpleware ScanIP software with the CAD add-on module to segment into a volumetric model. Maverick Render Indie then allowed us to apply colors and textures to the models, as shown in Figure 5.

Conclusion

Among the SkyScan product line, the SkyScan 1273 remains a workhorse instrument that capably handles even large samples like the cacao pod while producing high-resolution datasets. While the SkyScan 1272 is still an excellent micro-CT instrument for high-resolution imaging of organic samples, we are excited to see the progress which is achieved by the X4 Poseidon as the heir apparent to the SkyScan 1272. With the modular design of the X4 Poseidon, each system will be custom-built, tailored to the needs of your individual laboratory optimizing your investment in technologies that are useful to your work instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.

We hope you found this Image of the Month informative and encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter and social media channels in preparation for the continuation of our Image of the Month series next month.

Scan Specifications 

These scans were completed on our SkyScan 1273 and SkyScan 1272 micro-CT systems at the Micro Photonics Imaging Laboratory in Allentown, PA along with a prototype X4 Poseidon micro-CT system at the Bruker AXS Headquarters in Madison, WI. Reconstructions were completed using NRecon 2.0 while visualization and volumetric inspection of the 2D and 3D results were completed using DataViewer and CTVox. The roasted cacao bean was converted to a STL volumetric model using Synopsys’ Simpleware ScanIP software with the CAD add-on module (Synopsys, Inc., Mountain View, USA) before 3D rendering using Maverick Render Indie (Random Control, Madrid, Spain).

Would you like your work to be featured in our monthly newsletter? If so, please contact us by calling Seth Hogg at 610-366-7103 or emailing seth.hogg@microphotonics.com.

References

*Simpleware software (Synopsys, Inc., Mountain View, USA) enables you to comprehensively process 3D image data (MRI, CT, micro-CT, FIB-SEM…) and export models suitable for CAD, CAE and 3D printing. Use Simpleware software’s capabilities to visualize, analyze, and quantify your data, and to export models for design and simulation workflows. Simpleware™ is a trademark of Synopsys, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.