Design of Formalin Detection System in Food Based on Artificial Neural Network

Most snacks and food today use a lot of preservatives so that they last longer and don't spoil quickly. The most commonly used preservative is formalin. Formalin is a toxic chemical that is often used as a preservative for biological samples such as preserving corpses. The existence of formalin is difficult to detect by the five human senses. Testing for formalin is usually carried out in a laboratory, so it is not easy for the public to do it. Therefore, this study proposes to design a tool to detect formalin based on a microcontroller. This tool is very important because it contributes to being able to test food with formalin practically, effectively, and quickly. It uses an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) method and it uses a gas sensor type HCHO WSP2110 and type MQ-138 to detect steam produced from heating. The results showed that The MQ-138 sensor is more sensitive to formalin than the HCHO WSP2110. The percentage of success of the tool in detecting the presence of formalin in food was 86.67%.