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

Abstract

Within the scope of this study, a polymer-based optical sensor that can polymerize under UV radiation and produce fluorescence when suitable functional monomers and crosslinkers were prepared for aluminum determination in yogurt, soybean flour, and meat samples. Parameters such as operating range, pH, sensitivity, selectivity, determination limit, and foreign ion effect were thoroughly investigated to validate the developed method and characterize this polymer-based membrane. The designed sensor has wavelengths of 322 nm for fluorescence excitation and 356 nm for emission, respectively. The studies were done at pH 3.0, and the sensor had a reaction time of 20–40 s. Furthermore, the linear range of the study is between 7.41 × 10⁻⁹–1.11 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, and the detection limit of the developed sensor was calculated as 2.09 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹.