NIR Spectroscopy Group

Group Leader: Szilveszter Gergely PhD 

Adress: Hungary 1111, Budapest, Szent Gellért tér 4. 1^th floor 165-166.

Short Introdution:

“The emblem of our craft” is infrared (IR) spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis (MVDA). In our field of expertise, supported by a state-of-the-art instrument park, we have conducted numerous collaborative studies over recent years—together with our students through individual projects, theses, dissertations, student research programs (TDK), and even doctoral work. These investigations have included tumor tissues and cancer cell lines (SE II. Institute of Pathology), micropolymers (WESSLING Hungary Ltd.), components required for vaccine production (Ceva-Phylaxia Vaccine Production Ltd.), nutrient powders, fermentation broths, monoclonal antibodies (Richter Gedeon Plc.), active pharmaceutical ingredients (SANOFI-AVENTIS Ltd., EGIS Pharmaceuticals), counterfeit tablets (OGYÉI), multilayer packaging materials (NÉBIH, PCCL), and biodiesels (Rossi Biofuel Ltd.).

Within our department—sometimes in collaboration with the research groups of Sándor Tömösközi, Áron Németh, and Gábor Tardy—numerous theses and dissertations have been completed on the analysis of raw and/or processed agricultural and food industry materials (e.g., pseudo-cereals, sweet sorghum, poppy capsules, red pepper, coffee, honey, algae, egg powder, olive and sunflower oil, mineral water); food products (e.g., pasta, ketchup, chocolate, candy, baby food, wine, sparkling wine, fruit brandy); additives and dietary supplements (e.g., flavorings, colorants, amino acids, fiber, resistant starch, cyclodextrins); by-products (e.g., corn fiber, glycerol, sewage sludge); and pharmaceutical and chemical products (e.g., creams, cosmetics, hand sanitizers, adhesives, inorganic salts, biodiesel, biodegradable plastics).

The analysis of these objects is sometimes part of fundamental research (e.g., protein structure, polymorphism, reaction kinetics), but more often falls under applied research (e.g., technology monitoring, quality control, fault analytics). We believe that engineers serve as a bridge between theory and practice. Based on the examples above, it’s clear that our graduates come not only from all specializations within biochemical engineering, but also frequently from biotechnology, environmental engineering, and chemical engineering programs.

Members: András Salgó Phd, János Slezsák, Ágnes Madács 

Main research topics:

• Development of infrared-based methods for determining the physical and/or chemical parameters and origin of various agricultural, food industry, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical raw materials, finished products, and by-products
• Infrared spectroscopic investigation of stress-induced changes in model proteins and protein-based biotechnological products
• Comparative analysis of plant, animal, and human tissues // tablets using infrared microscopic techniques