A versatile reusable polymer-based sensor for aluminum analysis in various food matrices

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Food Science

Background:

• Accurate aluminum determination is crucial for food safety and quality control.
• Existing methods for aluminum detection can be complex and time-consuming.
• Development of rapid, selective, and sensitive sensors is needed for routine analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a polymer-based optical sensor for aluminum determination.
• To assess the sensor's performance in complex food matrices like yogurt, soybean flour, and meat.
• To characterize key analytical parameters including sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limits.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a UV-polymerizable polymer-based optical sensor.
• Optimization of sensor parameters: operating range, pH, reaction time, and selectivity.
• Spectroscopic analysis using fluorescence excitation (322 nm) and emission (356 nm) wavelengths.

Main Results:

• The developed sensor demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity for aluminum.
• Optimal performance was achieved at pH 3.0 with a rapid reaction time of 20-40 seconds.
• A linear working range of 7.41 × 10⁻⁹–1.11 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ and a detection limit of 2.09 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ were established.

Conclusions:

• The polymer-based optical sensor provides a reliable and efficient method for aluminum quantification in diverse food products.
• The sensor's characteristics make it suitable for rapid screening and quality control applications in the food industry.
• This approach offers a promising alternative to conventional analytical techniques for trace metal analysis in food.