Flow Injection Amperometric Measurement of Formalin in Seafood.

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Food Safety

Background:

• Formalin is illegally used as a preservative and antibacterial agent in seafood.
• Accurate and rapid detection of formalin in seafood is crucial for public health.
• Existing detection methods may lack simplicity, speed, or accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, rapid, and accurate formalin sensor for seafood.
• To utilize a novel modified electrode for enhanced formalin detection.
• To ensure food safety and protect public health from adulterated seafood.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a glassy carbon electrode modified with palladium particles and carbon microspheres (PdPs-CMs/GCE).
• Electroless deposition of palladium particles onto carbon microspheres.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX).
• Electrochemical evaluation via cyclic voltammetry and amperometry in a flow injection amperometric (FI-Amp) system.

Main Results:

• The PdPs-CMs/GCE exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for formalin oxidation.
• Optimized sensor demonstrated a linear detection range of 0.025 to 15.00 mmol L⁻¹.
• Achieved a low detection limit of 8 μmol L⁻¹ with good repeatability, reproducibility, stability, and selectivity.
• Accurate formalin recovery in seafood samples ranged from 96% to 105%.

Conclusions:

• The developed FI-Amp formalin sensor offers a reliable method for detecting illegal formalin in seafood.
• The PdPs-CMs/GCE provides a sensitive and stable platform for electrochemical sensing.
• This sensor technology contributes significantly to safeguarding seafood safety and public health.