Exploring the Analytical Complexities in Insect Powder Analysis Using Miniaturized NIR Spectroscopy

Insects have been a food source for humans for millennia, and they are actively consumed in various parts of the world. This paper aims to ascertain the feasibility of portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a reliable and fast candidate for the classification of insect powder samples and the prediction of their major components. Commercially-available insect powder samples were analyzed using two miniaturized NIR instruments. The samples were analyzed as they are and after grinding, to study the effect of the granulometry on the spectroscopic analyses. A homemade sample holder was designed and optimized for making reliable spectroscopic measurements. Classification was then performed using three classification strategies, and partial least squares (PLS) regression was used to predict the macronutrients. The results obtained confirmed that both spectroscopic sensors were able to classify insect powder samples and predict macronutrients with an adequate detection limit.