As the debate about TiO 2 food additive safety is still open, the present study focuses on the extraction and characterisation of TiO 2 (nano)particles added as a whitening agent to confectionary products, that is, chewing gum pellets. The aim was to (1) determine the colloidal properties of suspensions mutually containing TiO 2 and all other chewing gum ingredients in biologically relevant media (preingestion conditions); (2) characterise the TiO 2 (nano)particles extracted from the chewing gum coating (after ingestion); and (3) verify their potential photocatalysis. The particle size distribution, in agreement with the zeta potential results, indicated that a small but significant portion of the particle population retained mean dimensions close to the nanosize range, even in conditions of moderate stability, and in presence of all other ingredients. The dispersibility was enhanced by proteins (i.e., albumin), which acted as surfactants and reduced particle size. The particle extraction methods involved conventional techniques and no harmful chemicals. The presence of TiO 2 particles embedded in the sugar-based coating was confirmed, including 17-30% fraction in the nanorange (<100 nm). The decomposition of organics under UV irradiation proved the photocatalytic activity of the extracted (nano)particles. Surprisingly, photocatalysis occurred even in presence of an amorphous SiO 2 layer surrounding the TiO 2 particles.
Due to the non-electroactivity of carcinogenic organic compound acrylamide, an indirect electrochemical detection by using molecularly imprinted polymer is proposed as a detection method. Polyaniline was chosen due to the conductivity, interesting properties and wide usage in the field of sensors. Polyaniline was prepared by the different electropolymerisation process to achieve different morphologies, properties. Cyclic voltammetry was further chosen for electropolymeristion of polyaniline, in which propanamide was imprinted as a template molecule. Due to the same size, shape and functional groups, so imprinted polyaniline presents a proof of concept molecule for further acrylamide bonding. Successful imprinting was confirmed by surface analysis technique (FTIR) and simple electrochemical measurements of polyaniline response.
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