Pigment red 53 is a synthetic dye that has been banned in cosmetic products due to the possibility of causing blood disorders and spleen sarcoma. The indicator strip employs qualitative analysis methods that are simpler, easier, and quicker than an instrumental analysis. The indicator strip is made of a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) mixture using a reagent blending method with specific reagents of concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl), or 10% sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Pigment red 53 detections with an indicator strip are based on the occurrence of a specific color change reaction between the reagent and pigment red 53 through sulfonation with concentrated H2SO4, neutralization with 10% NaOH, and reaction of pigment red 53's azo group with concentrated HCl. PMMA was made with a concentration of 5% (w/t), and mixtures of PS:PMMA 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 had solvent-to-specific reagent ratios of 60:40, 80:20, and 90:10. The best results were obtained for PMMA-H2SO4 (90:10), PMMA-HCl (80:20), and PMMA-NaOH (60:40), with the lowest detection limits equaling 20 ppm, 50 ppm, and 20 ppm, respectively. Meanwhile, the best PS:PMMA (1:4)-based indicator strips obtained were PS:PMMA-H2SO4 (90:10), PS:PMMA-HCl (80:20), and PS:PMMA-NaOH (60:40), with the lowest detection limits being 20 ppm, 10 ppm, and 20 ppm, respectively. All indicator strips are stable for at least 80 days. Indicator strips can be used as a simple and applicable method for detecting pigment red 53 in cosmetic products with a good performance.
Keywords: PMMA; indicator strip; pigment red 53; polystyrene.