IIT Madras develops device to detect milk adulteration within 30 seconds

NEW DELHI: The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) have developed a pocket-friendly device to detect any kind of milk adulteration within 30 seconds. This device can be used at home to prevent consumption of adulterated milk.

The device created is capable to detect multiple substances commonly used as adulterating agents including Urea, detergents, soap, starch, hydrogen peroxide, sodium-hydrogen-carbonate and salt, among others. As compared to current technology, the new IITM study is affordable and can test other liquids such as water, fresh juices, and milkshakes for traces of adulteration. Only a milliliter of any liquid would be as a sample to test for adulterants.

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The research was led by IIT Madras, department of mechanical engineering, associate professor, Pallab Sinha Mahapatra along with research scholars Subhashis Patari and Priyankan Datta. The study has been published in a peer-review journal, Nature.

Speaking about the research study, IIT Madras, associate professor, Pallab Sinha Mahapatra said: “All the reagents are dissolved either in distilled water or in ethanol, depending upon their solubility. Using colorimetric detection techniques, all the adulterants are detected in different liquid samples. It is inferred from the investigation that the reagent only reacts with the specific adulterant in this method and not with any milk ingredients. Hence, this analytical tool can help to monitor liquid food safety and thereby increases the traceability of tainted milk in remote areas of developing countries.”