Towards the end of 2017, we started to design the Kjeldahl lab with Labster (funded by innovedum) because this experiment cannot be done with students in the real lab. The only thing the students could get was a demo, but no hands-on! With the virtual lab, they now can go through the experiment themselves.
Lab Description
About the Kjeldahl Method: Estimate the protein content in food Virtual Lab Simulation
In the Kjeldahl Method simulation, you will learn how to use the Kjeldahl method to determine the protein content of a food sample, and how to use LC-MS/MS to investigate if the sample has been adulterated to make the protein content seem higher than it is.
Analyze a milk powder sample
Your lab has received batch samples of milk powder from 3 different producers. Your mission is to analyze a sample from one of the batches using the Kjeldahl method, in order to determine the exact protein content, and to make sure this is consistent with the reported value.
Tracing the steps of the Kjeldahl method
An animation will introduce you to each step of the analysis, and show what goes on at the molecular level.You will then perform the acid digestion, steam distillation and finally a colorimetric titration, before being challenged with the calculations needed to transfer the lab result to a protein content in the sample.
Is everything what it appears to be?
How can you be certain that your findings are correct? There might be ways to fool the Kjeldahl method! In the second half of the simulation, you will look into how this can happen, and explore the powerful technique LC-MS/MS, which can be used to detect if a known adulterant has been added to any of the received milk powder batches.
Will you be able to safely release the milk powder batches for consumers around the world?