Use of Cobalt Nitroprusside Nanoparticles in the detection of Sulphites in Sugar
Abstract
Sulphite detection and removal is currently an important process in the manufacture of sugar. Our objective in this review paper is to explore the methods of detection of sulphites using Cobalt Nitroprusside nanoparticles. Cobalt Nitroprusside, also known as cobalt pentacyanonitrosylferrate has proved to be an excellent coordinate compound for the manufacture of its nanoparticles and usage of those nanoparticles in the detection of sulphite. The method proposed in our review paper involves using a carbon paste electrode modified with Cobalt Nitroprusside nanoparticles. Cobalt Nitroprusside being a transitional element complex and is used for the quantification of analytes, provides the industry with a wide potential window.
Sulphites in foods and most commonly in sugar, pose a threat to the health of individuals who consume processed foods regularly. Sulphites are known to cause allergic reactions on the face and eyes and vomiting, diarrhoea and cramps, it is essential to remove the sulphites in ingestible items.
Hence, it is an important process to detect the sulphites present in the sugar making process and taking the necessary steps to eliminate them from the sugar-manufacturing process.
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Introduction
The sugar that is largely consumed across India is called,’ Plantation White Sugar’. This ‘Plantation White Sugar’ is manufactured after operations such as affination, filtration and carbonation. It is because of these operations, the market gets flooded with the extra white, refined sugar. Most commonly, sulphur dioxide is used by sugar mills to lighten the colour of the molasses and extend its shelf life. This leads to residual sulphur remaining in the sugar in the form of sulphite, which is considered to be risky for human consumption and may cause health hazards towards sensitive individuals such as: 1. Dermatitis 2. Urticaria 3. Flushing 4. Hypotension 5. Abdominal Pain 6. Diarrhoea 7. Anaphylactic reactions The sugar mills in India follow a process of double sulphitation for the plantation of white sugar. This causes the residual sulphur to be left behind in the manufactured sugar, which can be harmful to the human body. Traditionally, residual sulphur is removed by the method of evaporation and double distillation. This method leads to loss of yield and becomes uneconomical for the production of sugar. Moreover, the presence of residual sulphurous acid in the sugar, which is formed due to the reaction of excess sulphur dioxide with water after re-sulphitation of the unsulphured syrup obtained from the evaporator, increases the sulphur dioxide content of the sugar. Hence, because of the health hazards being posed by the presence of sulphites in sugar, The Bureau of Indian Standard: 5982-1970, has kept the maximum sulphur dioxide content limit as 70 ppm, within the safe tolerance limit. For ‘Plantation White Sugar’ the safety limit has been fixed for 70 ppm and for refined sugar it has been fixed as 20 ppm. International Standard has fixed the safety tolerance limit at 10 ppm for refined sugar.
Conclusion
Cobalt Nitroprusside is an important complex in the field of upcoming nanotechnology and nanoparticles. It is an extremely useful complex for the detection of compounds; sulphites, for instance. It has been used as a modifier in carbon paste electrode which in turn affects its electrochemical activity drastically. Even though the short term effects of sulphites are not usually an area of concern for the human body, its long term effects can be harmful. Alternate solutions like using the sonication method or bulk mixing method provide an insight on how the usage of Cobalt Nitroprusside nanoparticles in the detection of sugar can be modified. Having alow catalytic activity can even be preferable over a high catalytic activity producing CPE since the control over the process is more. The continued research in the removal of nanosensors and nanoparticles may also bring a change in the direction of our consumption of various products. Our review paper shall hopefully provide some knowledge to the researchers having an interest in the use of nanosensors and cobalt nitroprusside nanoparticles.
