Porous chitosan/partially reduced graphene oxide/diatomite composite as an efficient adsorbent for quantitative colorimetric detection of pesticides in a complex matrix

On-site, instrument free quantitative analysis of pesticides is of significant importance for food safety control. However, it is still a great challenge for pesticide detection in food via the current visual detection methods due to the presence of interferents in a complex matrix. In this study, a complex tea matrix had a strong effect on a gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) based colorimetric sensor for the detection of pesticides. Here, a porous chitosan/partially reduced graphene oxide/diatomite (CS/prGO/DM) composite was successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal treatment. It could act as an efficient adsorbent for removing different types of tea interferents. A colorimetric sensing platform for the quantitative detection of pesticides in a complex matrix was successfully established. The color changes of the aggregation of Au NPs induced by pesticides were captured using the camera of a smartphone and the images were processed with average RGB (red, green, and blue) values obtained using self-developed software. The G/R values and A700/525 values obtained from UV-vis spectra could be used for quantitative analysis of pesticides. The limits of detection of phosalone and thiram in tea were 90 nM and 13.8 nM, respectively. It is expected that graphene-based materials are attractive for wide application of on-site colorimetric quantitative detection in a variety of fields like environmental protection, food safety and bioanalysis.

Automated summary

The study successfully established a colorimetric sensing platform for quantitative detection of pesticides in a complex matrix by capturing color changes induced by pesticides using a smartphone camera and processing images with self-developed software, as well as utilizing values obtained from UV-vis spectra for quantitative analysis. The limits of detection for two pesticides in tea were found to be 90nM and 13.8nM, respectively, showing potential for wide application of graphene-based materials in on-site colorimetric quantitative detection in various fields such as environmental protection, food safety, and bioanalysis.