Comparative Studies of Screen-Printed Electrode Based Electrochemical Biosensor with the Optical Biosensor for Formaldehyde Detection in Corn

In the present manuscript, we fabricated screen-printed electrode based biosensor and enzymatic optical biosensor for detection of carcinogenic formaldehyde. The biosensor strip using cyclic voltammetry technique exhibited high sensitivity of 352 mu A mg(-1) L cm(-2) with detection limit of 0.03 mg/L, and sensitivity of 0.186 Abs (mg/L)(-1) with detection limit of 0.02 mg/L was obtained with optical biosensor over the concentration range of 0.01-0.5 mg/L. This electrochemical sensing result was compared with that of enzymatic optical sensing obtained with alpha-Fe2O3/ITO bioelectrode on the same sample, under similar environmental conditions, obtaining a high correlation (r(2) = 0.988). The non-availability of biosensor for formaldehyde detection in corn as a food and feed stimulated our research efforts in this direction. The results of the study may have implications in developing a range of biosensors for the quantification of adulterants and contaminants along the whole food supply chain from farm to fork.

Automated summary

This study fabricated biosensors and enzymatic optical biosensors for detecting carcinogenic formaldehyde, with high sensitivity and detection limits. Comparing the electrochemical sensing results with enzymatic optical sensing results on the same sample, there was a high correlation, laying the foundation for further development of biosensors for detecting adulterants and contaminants along the food supply chain.