Development of Furaneol Imprinted Polymer Based QCM sensor for Discrimination of Artificially and Naturally Ripened Mango

Film of furaneol imprinted polyacrylic acid is coated over thick film of quartz crystal pre-treated with 3- amino-propyl-trimethoxysilane (APTMS). This composite film is used for detection of furaneol which is one of the flavour enhancing aromas of mango. The concentration of furaneol flavor in mango vanishes when treated with calcium carbide (CaC
₂
) for artificial ripening. The resolution of sensor was 1.23 ppm with a response range of 100-1000 ppm. The sensor is found to be selective with relative selectivity of 79.70%. This polymer imprinted quartz crystal microbalance is used to identify the carbide treated Langda, Himsagar and Amrapaly mangoes. The applicability of the biomimetic imprinting technique fused with sensitive QCM sensor to monitor the quality deterioration caused upon addition of calcium carbide in mango has been established.