Researchers from IIT Madras have created a low-cost, portable 3D paper-based gadget that can identify adulterated milk in under 30 seconds. This new technology, which can be used at home and requires only a millilitre of the liquid sample to test for adulterants, differs from traditional laboratory-based methods in that it can.
Detergents, soap, hydrogen peroxide, urea, starch, salt, and sodium hydrogen carbonate are just a few of the adulterants that the gadget can identify.
Dr. Pallab Sinha Mahapatra, an associate professor in the IIT Madras Department of Mechanical Engineering, served as the project's principal investigator along with study assistants Subhashis Patari and Driyankan Datta. They collaborated on a study that was printed in Nature, a peer-reviewed publication.
The centre layer of the three-dimensional paper-based microfluidic device is sandwiched between the top and bottom covers. Denser liquids can be transported at a constant speed thanks to this 3D construction.
Reagents are applied to the paper, then it is allowed to settle. After drying, the two paper layers are attached to the support on both sides using double-sided adhesive.
The use of Whatman filter paper grade 4 in this construction permits the passage of liquid and the storage of more reagents.
Depending on their solubility, all of the reagents used in the gadget are dissolved in either distilled water or ethanol, according to Dr. Pallab Sinha Mahapatra. In order to identify all adulterants in various liquid samples, colorimetric detection methods are used.
It is an efficient analytical tool to monitor the safety of liquid food and improve the traceability of contaminated milk in isolated areas of developing countries because the reagent only reacts with the specific adulterant in this technique and not with any milk ingredients.
Milk is a necessary food for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but it is also one of the foods that is most frequently contaminated globally. Growing concerns about milk adulteration are being raised, especially in emerging nations like India, Pakistan, China, and Brazil.
Consuming adulterated milk can cause various medical complications, including kidney difficulties, infant mortality, gastrointestinal complications, diarrhea, and even cancer.
Overall, the novel 3D paper-based portable device created by IIT Madras researchers is an inventive and affordable way to identify milk adulteration quickly and accurately.
It could also be used to check for signs of adulteration in other liquids like water, fresh juices, and milkshakes, making it a helpful tool for keeping an eye on the safety of liquid food.
