Colorimetric Determination of Tea-Stained Seashells using the B&W Tek Quest X UV-vis-NIR Spectrometer

This study compares the sensitivity of CIE Lab values, peak area, and yellowness index for the determination of color attributes among a set of white and stained seashells exposed to tea tannins. With its optimized ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and near-infrared (NIR) performance, the Quest X linear CCD array spectrometer stands out as a versatile and easy-to-use low-stray light optical bench device, particularly useful in this study for rapid at-line measurements. Our findings show that the peak-area integration method provided greater sensitivity for separating the seashells based on human perception of color. This approach has the potential for accurately measuring the color of samples at various time points, after treatment, for product claims, and for significantly enhancing product quality and performance, thereby instilling confidence in the product development process.