System and method for aflatoxin detection

1. A nondestructive aflatoxin detection system comprising:

a chamber comprising an imaging stage and a sorting stage;

a sorting plane in said chamber configured to receive bulk unsorted produce from a produce source, said sorting plane further configured to move said unsorted produce from said imaging stage through said sorting stage;

at least one wideband black light source configured to illuminate said unsorted produce and highlight aflatoxin in said unsorted produce at said imaging stage;

at least one imaging device at said imaging stage configured to capture at least one image consisting of Red, Green, and Blue component channels of said unsorted produce;

an image processing device configured with at least one processor and computer memory coupled with said at least one imaging device, wherein said image processing device is configured to evaluate said Red component channel of said at least one image of said unsorted produce, wherein said image processing device is further configured to determine contaminated produce based on evaluation of said Red component channel in said at least one image of said unsorted produce; and

at least one separation device in said sorting stage coupled with said image processing device, wherein said separation device is configured to remove said contaminated produce from said sorting plane.

2. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to said sorting plane.

3. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 2 , wherein said produce comprises nuts.

4. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 3 , wherein said nuts comprises almonds.

5. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 3 , wherein said at least one separation device is configured to remove contaminated nuts corresponding to images in which contamination is detected by said image processing device.

6. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 1 , wherein said chamber is configured to eliminate other light sources except said at least one wideband black light source.

7. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one imaging device is further configured to filter light below about 400 nm to about 410 nm wavelength.

8. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 1 , wherein said image processing device is configured to determine that contaminated produce is present when light of about 620 nm to about 720 nm wavelength is detected.

9. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 1 ,wherein said evaluating said Red component channel comprises generating a red band histogram of Red component channel values in at least a portion of said at least one image from 0 to 255, inclusive, and wherein said image processing device is configured to determine contaminated produce by the presence of Red component channel values above a threshold Red component channel value, wherein said threshold Red component channel value is at least about 150.

10. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 9 , wherein said threshold Red component channel value is at least about 180.

11. A nondestructive aflatoxin detection system comprising:

a chamber comprising an imaging stage and a sorting stage, wherein said chamber is configured to isolate external light sources;

a sorting plane in said chamber configured to receive bulk unsorted produce from a produce source, said sorting plane further configured to move said unsorted produce from said imaging stage through said sorting stage;

at least one wideband black light source, at said imaging stage of said chamber, configured to illuminate said unsorted produce and highlight aflatoxin in said unsorted produce;

at least one imaging device at said imaging stage configured to capture at least one image consisting of Red, Green, and Blue component channels of said unsorted produce;

an image processing device configured with at least one processor and computer memory coupled with said at least one imaging device, wherein said image processing device is configured to evaluate said Red component channel of said at least one image of said unsorted produce, wherein said image processing device is further configured to determine contaminated produce based on evaluation of said Red component channel in said at least one image of said unsorted produce; and

at least one separation device in said sorting stage coupled with said image processing device, wherein said separation device is configured to remove said contaminated produce from said sorting plane.

12. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 11 , further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to said sorting plane.

13. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 12 , wherein said at least one separation device is configured to remove contaminated nuts corresponding to images in which contamination is detected by said image processing device.

14. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 11 , wherein said at least one imaging device is further configured to filter light below about 400 nm to about 410 nm wavelength.

15. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 11 , wherein said image processing device is configured to determine that contaminated produce is present when light of about 620 nm to about 720 nm wavelength is detected.

16. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 11 , wherein said evaluating said Red component channel comprises generating a red band histogram of Red component channel values in at least a portion of said at least one image from 0 to 255, inclusive, and wherein said image processing device is configured to determine contaminated produce by the presence of Red component channel values above a threshold red component value, wherein said threshold Red component channel value is at least about 150.

17. The aflatoxin detection system of claim 16 , wherein said threshold Red component channel value is at least about 180.