At the Photonics for Agrofoods and Environment laboratory, we employ an alternative approach for the quick monitoring of the characteristic substances contained in food samples, with little or no processing.
We rely on our expertise in the area of the interaction of light with matter and the development of specialized optical spectroscopic analysis methods (such as light absorption and fluorescence techniques). This way, we can record the optical spectrum that is the characteristic "fingerprint" and reflects the chemical composition of a sample. Different samples have a different fingerprint and the detected differences or similarities are used for:
Identification
Origin determination
Quality control
We focus on spectroscopic methods such as UltraViolet/Visible, Near Infrared, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Fluorescence, Laser induced Fluorescence (LIF), Time Resolved Fluorescence (TRF), Raman and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). These techniques are quick and much cheaper than the time-consuming and costly conventional analytical techniques.
Our technology is used for:
Distinction of varieties of several agrofoods products (wine, oil, honey, milk, etc.)
Monitoring of wine maturation in relation to time and kind of barrel
Quality control of products
Detection of adulteration
Application of laser spectroscopic techniques for the detection of specific chemical substances in foods (contaminants, plasticizers, pesticides ...)
Creation of a database for the prominence of local varieties and the characterization of their geographical origin
Dr. Velegrakis Michalis
Physicist
Research Director
Dr. Samartzis Petros
Chemist
Principal Researcher
Dr. Zoumi Aikaterini
Mineral Resources Engineer PostDoctoral Fellow
Dr. Siozos Panos
Physicist
PostDoctoral Fellow
Dr. Philippidis Aggelos
Chemist
PostDoctoral Fellow
Ms. Kontzedaki Renate
Chemist
PhD Student
Mr. Orfanakis Emmanouil
Chemist
PhD Student
Mr. Fragkoulis Nikolaos
Chemist
PhD Student
Mr. Giannakidis Giannis
Physicist
PhD Student
Mr. Psyllakis Giannis
Engineer
Technical Assistant
Ms. Boumpoulaki Evangelia
Chemist
Technical Assistant
Mrs. Stamataki Katerina
Physicist
Technical Assistant
Mr. Findrilis Nektarios
Physicist
M.Sc. Student
Mr. Banoutsos Apostolos
Physicist
M.Sc. Student
Ms. Vlasiadi Maria
Undergraduate Student
Ms. Koliou Eirini
Undergraduate Student
Ms. Charitoudi Helen
Undergraduate Student
- Characterization of Greek Wine by Ultraviolet-Visible Absorption Spectrometry and Statistical Multivariate Methods
Aggelos Philippidis, Emmanouil Poulakis, Marianthi Basalekou, Argiro Strataridaki, Stamatina Kallithraka, Michalis Velegrakis
Analytical Letters 2017, vol. 50, no.12, 1950-1963 https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2016.1255748 - Comparative Study using Raman and Visible Spectroscopy of Cretan Extra Virgin Olive Oil Adulteration with Sunflower Oil
Aggelos Philippidis, Emmanouil Poulakis, Antigoni Papadaki, Michalis Velegrakis
Analytical Letters 2017, vol. 50, no 7., 1182-1195 https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2016.1208212 - Verifying the Geographical Origin and Authenticity of Greek Olive Oils by Means of Optical Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis
Renate Kontzedaki, Emmanouil Orfanakis, Georgia Sofra-Karanti, Katerina Stamataki, Aggelos Philippidis, Aikaterini Zoumi, Michalis Velegrakis
Molecules 2020, 25 (18), 4180 https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25184180 - Application of Ultraviolet-Visible Absorption Spectroscopy with Machine Learning Techniques for the Classification of Cretan Wines
Aggelos Philippidis, Emmanouil Poulakis, Renate Kontzedaki, Emmanouil Orfanakis, Aikaterini Symianaki, Aikaterini Zoumi, Michalis Velegrakis
Foods 2021, 10(1), 9 https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10010009 - Optical spectroscopy methods combined with multivariate statistical analysis for the classification of Cretan thyme, multi-floral and honeydew honey
Emmanouil Orfanakis, Michail Markoulidakis, Aggelos Philippidis, Aikaterini Zoumi, Michalis Velegrakis
J Sci Food Agric 2021, published online https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.11182 - Application of Optical Spectroscopic Techniques and Multivariate Statistical Analysis as a Method of Determining the Percentage and Type of Adulteration of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Giorgos Stavrakakis, Aggelos Philippidis, Michalis Velegrakis
Food Analytical Methods 2021 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-021-02055-8 - Commercial milk discrimination by fat content and animal origin using optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy
Nikolaos Fragkoulis, Peter C. Samartzis, Michalis Velegrakis
International Dairy Journal 2021, 123, 105181 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idairyj.2021.105181 - Autonomous Differential Absorption Laser Device for Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Greenhouse Gases
Panagiotis Siozos, Giannis Psyllakis, Peter C. Samartzis, Michalis Velegrakis
Remote Sensing 2022, 14, 460 https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14030460 - Comparative Evaluation of Different Targeted and Untargeted Analytical Approaches to Assess Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quality and Authentication
Sofia Drakopoulou, Emmanouil Orfanakis, Ioulia Karagiannaki, Fragiskos Gaitis, Stavroula Skoulika, Andreas Papaioannou, George Boukouvalas, George Petropoulos, Vassilios Katsoudas, Renate Kontzedaki, Aggelos Philippidis, Aikaterini Zoumi, Marilena Dasenaki, Nikolaos S. Thomaidis, Michalis Velegrakis
Molecules 2022, 27, 1350 https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27041350 - A continuous-wave, lidar sensor based on water vapour absorption lines at 1.52 μm
Panagiotis Siozos, Giannis Psyllakis, Michalis Velegrakis
Remote Sensing Letters 2022, vol. 13, no. 11, 1164-1172 https://doi.org/10.1080/2150704X.2022.2127130 - Remote Operation of an Open-Path, Laser-Based Instrument for Atmospheric CO2 and CH4 Monitoring
Panagiotis Siozos, Giannis Psyllakis, Michalis Velegrakis
Photonics 2023, 10, 386 https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics10040386 - Rapid Detection of Benzo[a]pyrene in Extra Virgin Olive Oil Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Emmanouil Orfanakis, Aggeliki Koumentaki, Aikaterini Zoumi, Aggelos Philippidis, Peter C. Samartzis, Michalis Velegrakis
Molecules 2023, 28(11), 4386 https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114386 - Classification of Greek extra virgin olive oils by Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with sensory and cultivation characteristics, and multivariate analysis
Aggelos Philippidis, Renate Kontzedaki, Emmanouil Orfanakis, Nikolaos Fragkoulis, Aikaterini Zoumi, Eleftheria Germanaki, Peter C. Samartzis, Michalis Velegrakis
JSFA Reports, https://doi.org/10.1002/jsf2.156 - Toward the Prediction of the Total Phenolic Content of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) - A Spectrophotometric Method Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis
Emmanouil Orfanakis, Ioulia Karagiannaki, Aikaterini Zoumi, Vassilios Katsoudas, Stavroula Skoulika, Fragiskos Gaitis, Michalis Velegrakis
Analytical Letters, https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2023.2270732
Press / Interviews / Publicity
- Historical opportunity for Cretan wines!
It is hosted by Cretalive.gr (News & media website). Read the interview (in Greek). - M. Velegrakis talks to “P” about the project "OINOFASMA": The team that aspires to upgrade wine and olive oil.
It is hosted by the local Cretan newspaper PATRIS. Read the interview (in Greek). - Lasers… to the farmer for climate change. "GREENHOUSE GAS" MEASUREMENTS.
It is hosted by the local Cretan newspaper PATRIS. Read the interview (in Greek). - Food Products Quality control: solution from FORTH.
It is hosted by the local Cretan newspaper PATRIS. Read the interview (in Greek). - Innovative practices from FORTH for product quality control (in Greek).
It is hosted by newshub.gr (online audio and video media). Read the interview (in Greek)
and the Sound Clip (in Greek). - Laboratory Presentation at the Researcher’s Night 2020 (in Greek)
Photonics for Agrofoods and Environment (in Greek) - FORTH celebrates World Science Day 2022 for Peace and Development - IESL is represented by our group
