Experimental evaluation of ZnO nanorods based eco – friendly sensor for melamine detection in milk

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a straightforward method for creating a non – toxic metal oxide sensor capable of detecting melamine in milk at ambient temperature.

Design/methodology/approach

A low temperature, straightforward solution-based approach, specifically the hydrothermal method was utilized to apply the active sensing layer onto the substrate. Subsequently, analysis of the cyclic voltammetry (CV) profile was conducted to detect the concentration of melamine and determine its sensitivity.

Findings

An experimental analysis was performed on a nontoxic metal oxide-based sensor fabricated for detecting melamine sensitivity using the CV profile. The sensor’s performance was evaluated under three different concentrations of melamine (0.1 mmol, 0.2 mmol and 0.3 mmol). The results demonstrated a satisfactory sensitivity of 0.0297 µAmM⁻¹cm⁻² with a response time of 2 s.

Originality/value

The primary innovation of this research lies in the creation of a nontoxic and environmentally friendly sensor. The synthesis method employed featured significantly lower temperatures compared to existing literatures. Furthermore, the sensor achieved enhanced sensitivity along with rapid response times.

Citation

Venkatachalapathi, S., Shankararajan, R., Ramany, K. and Gunasekaran, I. (2024), "Experimental evaluation of ZnO nanorods based eco – friendly sensor for melamine detection in milk", Sensor Review, Vol. 44 No. 4, pp. 486-489. https://doi.org/10.1108/SR-10-2023-0505