Issue 25, 2022

Paper-based colorimetric sensor array for the rapid and on-site discrimination of green tea samples based on the flavonoid composition

Abstract

Green tea is a worldwide appreciated food product with Chinese production estimated to reach over 3m tons in 2027 and with many valuable health effects. The development of analytical methods to discriminate among green tea samples is induced by economic benefits and to avoid deliberate origin mislabeling and adulteration. In this study, we present a paper-based colorimetric sensor array comprised of six ordinary reagents tailored for the discrimination of green tea extracts of different brands according to differences in the composition of flavonoids. The colorimetric array was rationally designed based on indicators that differentially react with a variety of flavonoids via specific functional groups. 4 μL of each reagent was impregnated onto the paper surface followed by the addition of the green tea extract. After 1 minute, digital images were acquired using a smartphone and the color changes were employed to build differential maps with a unique fingerprint for each green tea sample. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical component analysis (HCA) were employed to successfully discriminate among the samples, enabling the origin and adulteration identification of the samples. Therefore, this study provides a simple, effective, low-cost, and portable method for quick discrimination and quality control of green tea samples.

Graphical abstract: Paper-based colorimetric sensor array for the rapid and on-site discrimination of green tea samples based on the flavonoid composition

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Eph 2022
Accepted
01 Jun 2022
First published
03 Jun 2022

Anal. Methods, 2022,14, 2471-2478

Paper-based colorimetric sensor array for the rapid and on-site discrimination of green tea samples based on the flavonoid composition

J. S. Gomes, R. M. F. de Sousa and J. F. D. S. Petruci, Anal. Methods, 2022, 14, 2471 DOI: 10.1039/D2AY00590E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements