Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

A Computer Vision System for the Assessment of Ice Cream Melting Behavior
Published on: October 4, 2024
Infrared spectroscopy used to study ice formation: the effect of trehalose, maltose, and glucose on melting
1Johnson Research Foundation, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
We report the use of infrared (IR) spectroscopy to detect ice crystals in biological solutions. The method is based on the temperature dependence of the OH bending and stretch bands of water. By using mixtures of D(2)O and H(2)O, water's absorption bands can be made to be on-scale in transmission mode. Water's stretch band moves to lower frequency and sharpens with freezing, and the bending band goes to higher frequency and becomes less sharp. The technique is demonstrated for the study of the hysteresis of freezing in the presence of glucosyl sugars, namely glucose, maltose, and trehalose.
Related Concept Videos
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
IR Spectrum
Transmittance is defined as the ratio of the radiant power passing through a sample to that from the radiation's source. Multiplying the transmittance by 100 gives the percent transmittance (%T), which varies between 100% (no absorption) and 0% (complete...
IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
IR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Aldehydes and Ketones
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...

