Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOES20230410007
- Term of Validity
- 10 April 2023 - 9 April 2025
- Company's Country
- Spain
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
-
Spanish researchers have developed a polymer capable of interacting with copper. Using this material, the concentration of copper in must samples can be determined quickly and easily.
They are looking for commercial and research cooperation agreements with companies and institutions related with the wine/food sector. The role of the new partners would be to implement the technology in their facilities. They are interested in commercial and research cooperation agreements. - Full Description
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Europe, led by Italy, France and Spain, is the world's largest producer and exporter of wine. This is due, in part, to the high quality of the final product and the high number of controls that are carried out. Among the latter, the measurements of pH, colour, biomolecules and metals stand out. Within this group is copper, and although it occurs in small quantities, this element is essential for proper fermentation of the must to take place.
In this context, researchers from a Spanish university have developed a polymeric material capable of interacting with copper and, through a simple photograph to provide, both quickly and easily, the concentration of this metal.
The polymer was prepared by radical reaction starting from the previously functionalized monomer. The material was synthesized in the form of a film, and it was verified that it generates a colorimetric response in the presence of copper (I).
Tests carried out in the laboratory allowed us to determine that the detection limit is 0.08 ppm.
The measurement procedure is as follows:
- The film is introduced into the sample together with pH 5 buffer.
- After 12 hours, the film is removed and washed with water.
- A photograph is taken together with a colour chart and, through the mobile application registered by this same colorimetric titration group, the corresponding concentration value is obtained.
It is important to control the levels of copper throughout the fermentation of the wine to avoid/detect the "cupric bankruptcy" that causes a decrease in the quality and safety of the wine for consumers.
The university is interested in contact with partners of agrifood sector, specifically related with wine.
Commercial agreement are sought and partners for research cooperation agreements are welcome as well. - Advantages and Innovations
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The reference method to determine the concentration of copper in wine and must samples is atomic absorption spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Compared to these methods, the developed material has a number of advantages:
- The polymer, when interacting with copper, generates a colour change and the concentration value can be quantified by means of a photograph. This makes this method simple and does not require highly specialized personnel to carry out the measurement.
- The only necessary equipment is a smartphone to take the picture, while the equipment for reference techniques is extraordinarily expensive. - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- IPR status
- IPR applied but not yet granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
The partner sought, both for license and manufacturing agreement (commercial agreement), will be wine related companies that are willing to implement a quick and affordable method to detect the level of copper in their wines.
Their role will be, for instance, to use this technology to improve and accelerate their analysis and/or to give companies.
In addition, the Spanish institution is looking for a research groups and research institutions to collaborate to transfer and bring the technology to the next level applying for European funds. - Type and Size of Partner
- Big company
- SME 11-49
- SME 50 - 249
- Other
- SME <=10
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 05001001 - Analytical Chemistry
- 08002001 - Detection and Analysis methods
- 05001004 - Organic Chemistry
- Market keywords
- 09005 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Animal Husbandry & Related Products
- 08001018 - Polymer (plastics) materials
- 07003001 - Wine and liquors
- Sector Groups Involved
- Agri-Food
- Targeted countries
- All countries