Fabrication of a "progress bar" colorimetric strip sensor array by dye-mixing method as a potential food freshness indicator

Abstract

Colorimetric sensing is a low-cost, intuitive method for monitoring the freshness of food. We prepared a colorimetric strip sensor array by mixing different amounts of bromophenol blue (BPB) and bromocresol green (BCG). As results of NH₃ simulation, the array strip turned from yellow to blue, and the number of blue spots increased with the increasing NH₃, like a progress bar. Although the actual color is quite different, the color-changing trend was consistent with the simulated model calculated by a computer. The progress bar results remained stable under three lighting conditions. Furthermore, in the Cod preservation experiment, the color-changing progress of the strip sensor array is consistent with the simulation and can indicate Cod freshness while providing more distinguish levels. Therefore, a "progress bar" indicator built by this strategy possess the potential of realizing nondestructive, more accurate, and commercially available food quality monitoring through the naked eye and smart equipment recognition.

Keywords: Colorimetric sensor; Food quality monitoring; Sensor array design; Strip sensor array.