Paper-based colorimetric test strip for arsenic detection in vegetable oils

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Safety
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Arsenic contamination in vegetable oils poses significant human health risks due to its carcinogenic properties.
• Existing arsenic detection methods are often costly, complex, or struggle with interference from high-lipid oil matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive paper-based colorimetric test strip for quantifying inorganic arsenic in vegetable oils.
• To overcome the limitations of current analytical techniques for on-site arsenic detection in food matrices.

Main Methods:

• Modification of the classic Gutzeit method for a paper substrate.
• Optimization of paper substrate, mercuric bromide concentration, and dithiothreitol-assisted pretreatment.
• Development of a quantitative colorimetric assay for inorganic arsenic detection.

Main Results:

• Achieved a limit of detection of 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ with a linear range of 0.05-1 mg kg⁻¹.
• Completed the entire analysis process within 30 minutes.
• Demonstrated high consistency with ICP-MS, showing recoveries between 94.13-109.12% in spiked and real samples.
• Confirmed reliable performance after 28 days of storage under various temperature conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed paper-based test strip is an efficient, low-cost, on-site alternative for arsenic detection in vegetable oils.
• This method addresses the need for rapid grassroots screening of arsenic contamination in food products.
• The test strip offers a practical solution for enhancing food safety and mitigating dietary health risks associated with arsenic exposure.