Detection of Melamine in Milk Using Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Melamine is a chemical compound generally used in milk based products. It is a highly toxic compound and not permitted to be use with food. Excessive intake of melamine can cause several side-effects that can lead to death in infants. Therefore, melamine detection in milk products has become essential. Existing methods of melamine detection have limited detection and they are complex and time consuming. In this thesis a sample colorimetric method for the detection of melamine is developed by using gold nanoparticle based surface Plasmon resonance. Gold Nanoparticles have tendency to agglomerate in the presence of melamine results into shift in Plasmon band of melamine. Effect of concentration of gold Nanoparticles on detection limit of melamine was evaluated. The melamine concentration measured in the tested sample of infant formula powder is 39nM which is well below the FDA limit of ppm. The method is rapid, simple, cost effective and highly reproducible.