Quantifying Hydrogen Peroxide in Cattle Milk via a Novel Plasmonic Nanofilm

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Safety

Background:

• Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an illegal milk adulterant used as a preservative, posing significant health risks due to its toxicity.
• Current detection methods may not be sensitive enough to identify H2O2 at trace levels below permissible limits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based sensor for sensitive detection of hydrogen peroxide in milk.
• To quantify hydrogen peroxide adulteration in milk using plasmonic sensing principles.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an LSPR sensor using glass substrate functionalized with silver nanoparticles synthesized from Ocimum tenuiflorum leaf extract.
• Coating silver nanoparticles with polyvinyl alcohol for enhanced interaction with hydrogen peroxide.
• Monitoring changes in absorbance and plasmonic peak shift upon exposure to hydrogen peroxide for quantification.

Main Results:

• The developed sensor showed a decrease in absorbance and a shift in the plasmonic peak when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.
• The observed spectral changes were successfully calibrated to accurately estimate the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in milk.
• The sensor demonstrated high sensitivity, capable of detecting hydrogen peroxide at trace levels significantly below the permissible limit.

Conclusions:

• Plasmonic sensing offers a powerful and sensitive tool for detecting hydrogen peroxide adulteration in milk.
• The fabricated LSPR sensor provides a reliable method for ensuring milk safety by detecting illegal H2O2 levels.
• This approach enables sensitive and accurate quantification of H2O2, safeguarding public health from harmful adulterants.