Effectiveness of luminescence analysis to identify gamma-irradiated shrimps: Effects of grinding, mixing and different methods of mineral separation

•Luminescence properties of non-irradiated shrimps were affected by grinding.•Photostimulated luminescence proved its potential as a first screening method.•Mixing of irradiated components was detectable through thermoluminescence (TL).•Effectiveness of TL was evaluated using different mineral separation procedures.•SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the presence of quartz and sodium-feldspar minerals.

Effects of grinding (5-60 min) and blending (1, 5 and 10%) on photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) analyses to identify gamma-irradiated shrimps were investigated. Furthermore, different mineral separation procedures (density separation, acid hydrolysis and alkali hydrolysis) were examined for the TL analysis. Grinding-induced-luminescence was more pronounced after 30 min of grinding time. PSL analysis gave variable results. TL glow curves showed a clear increase in intensity after 30 min of grinding but were remarkably different in shape and intensity from those of the irradiated samples. TL glow curves were easily distinguishable even at 1% addition of irradiated sample, where the minerals obtained by the density separation procedure had overall better results. TL technique proved the potential for the reliable identification of irradiated shrimp where the effects of applied dose, grinding, blending and method of mineral separation were evident.