Fruits and a Smart New Way to Check for Chemicals

Scientists have come up with a clever idea to check for harmful chemicals in fruit.

They made a special tool that can tell if there is too much of a substance called carbendazim (CBZ) in fruits. This tool is made from tiny sheets of a special material called sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride, decorated with another material called polyaniline. This combo makes the tool:

• Super sensitive
• Good at conducting electricity

How It Works

This tool is not like the usual ones. It is:

• Flexible
• Disposable

It works by measuring tiny electrical signals. When CBZ is present, the tool picks up these signals and tells how much CBZ is there. The tool is so good that it can detect even very small amounts of CBZ, as low as 9.0 nM. It also works well over time and gives the same results every time it is used.

Testing the Tool

To test it, scientists used it on real fruit samples. The results were very close to those from a more complex and expensive method called high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). This shows that the new tool is just as good but much simpler and cheaper.

Eco-Friendly Benefits

What makes this tool even better is that it is also good for the environment. It:

• Does not use any harmful metals
• Can be thrown away safely

This is the first time anyone has thought about how eco-friendly a tool like this can be.

Potential Uses

This new tool could be a big help for people who need to check fruits for harmful chemicals quickly and easily. It could be used right where the fruits are grown or sold, making it a handy tool for:

• Farmers
• Sellers

The best part is that it is not only good at its job but also safe for the environment.