Effect of Beverage Composition on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Performance Using Polyethylene Terephthalate...

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Electrical Engineering
• Supply Chain Management

Background:

• Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology offers significant potential for enhancing food supply chain management and reducing food waste.
• Integration challenges arise from the dielectric properties of food, beverages, and packaging materials, which disrupt RFID tag performance.
• Understanding these disruptive effects is crucial for optimizing RFID applications in the food industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of packaging and beverage contents on the performance of ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID tags.
• To evaluate how different RFID tag designs interact with various liquid contents within PET bottles.
• To provide data for developing predictive models for RFID performance in food traceability systems.

Main Methods:

• Tested three distinct UHF RFID tags attached to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
• Measured key tag performance metrics: sensitivity, backscatter, and read range.
• Evaluated performance with water-based solutions and diverse commercial beverages.

Main Results:

• Beverage type and RFID tag design significantly influence tag performance.
• Tag 3 demonstrated consistent readability across different beverage types, with sensitivity from -0.49 to -2.01 dBm.
• Tag 1 performed optimally with an empty PET bottle, achieving a read range of 16.34 m, but showed reduced performance with liquids.

Conclusions:

• RFID tag performance is highly dependent on the dielectric properties of the contents within packaging.
• Tag 3 is recommended for applications involving RFID in contact with various beverages due to its consistent performance.
• Further research can develop a mathematical model to predict RFID performance, aiding smart packaging design for improved food traceability.