A paper chromatographic method for the detection of adulteration of anionic detergent in milk is described. The method is based on the complexing of anionic detergent with methylene blue dye and separation of complex from free dye using simple paper chromatographic method. Since complexing of detergent is with dye, visualization is direct without involvement of subsequent detection of complex. The method is simple and results are available in 10 min. The method is sensitive to detect 0.1 % (w/v) labolene (laboratory grade detergent) or 0.01 % (w/v) sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (pure anionic detergent) in milk. The method can be adopted at quality control laboratories in dairies for ascertaining the quality of milk.
Keywords: Anionic detergent; Dye-detergent complex; Methylene blue dye; Milk adulteration; Milk quality; Paper chromatography.