Design and synthesis of surface-decorated zinc-doped carbon quantum dots as fluorescent probes for tartrazine detection in real food samples exploiting the inner filter effect mechanism

• Published in: Food control 2025-02, Vol.168, p.110925, Article 110925
• Main Authors: Chaudhari, Sharayu S., Patil, Pravin O., Mali, Sachin S., Alam, Md Shamsher, Nangare, Sopan N., Bari, Sanjaykumar B., Khan, Zamir G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Box-Behnken design; Food safety; Inner filter effect; Pigeon pod shells; Tartrazine sensing; Zn-doped CQDs
• ISSN: 0956-7135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2024.110925

We developed a rapid and sensitive method for detecting tartrazine (Tar), a common food colorant, using zinc-doped carbon quantum dots (Zn-doped CQDs). Synthesized from biowaste pigeon pod shells and zinc acetate, the Zn-doped CQDs exhibited a high quantum yield (47.63%) and were characterized by photo-stability, non-toxicity, and water solubility. The inner filter effect (IFE) allows selective attenuation of Zn-doped CQD fluorescence by Tar, enabling precise detection. The approach obtains a low detection limit of 20.35 ng/mL and a quantification limit of 61.69 ng/mL within a linear range of 0–100 ng/mL under optimal conditions when employing the Box-Behnken statistical design. The approach demonstrates excellent reproducibility, successfully detecting Tar in real food samples with recovery rates ranging from 89% to 102.2%. This high accuracy confirms the sensor's reliability and effectiveness in practical applications. This cost-effective and rapid technique presents a promising solution for monitoring Tar levels in food products. [Display omitted] •Zn-doped CQDs were explored as an excellent sensor for tartrazine detection.•The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was utilized to optimize the parameters.•The probe exhibited a high quantum yield (47.63 %) & low limit of detection.•Selective attenuation occurs via IFE, demonstrating good reproducibility.