Development of green analytical strategies for the determination of protein and urea in foods

• Grant number: 21/02590-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Rodrigo Piovezani Rocha
• Grantee: Isabela Camargo Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Food analysis is essential for the characterization and monitoring of product quality standards, by studying the physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics of food. In this context, there is a high demand for faster, more environmentally friendly, and less costly methodologies. Therefore, this project aims to develop analytical strategies using microdistillation and smartphone-based digital images photometry to determine proteins in foods and urea in milk aiming at detection of adulterations or evaluation of the health and nutritional state of animals. Protein determination will be based on ammonia distillation from Kjeldhal digests, detected by using an acid-base indicator in the acceptor solution. An analogous process will be investigated for determination of urea in milk, but aiming at detection of ammonia yielded in hydrolysis of urea, under catalysis of urease from commercial sources or from crude vegetal extracts. The proposed analytical alternatives are expected to contribute to the assessment of food quality and safety, being more accessible, consuming low amounts of reagents and solvents and generating low waste amounts.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GONCALVES, ISABELA CAMARGO; SOARES, SAMARA; ROCHA, FABIO R. P.. Exploiting microdistillation and smartphone-based digital-image colorimetry for determination of protein in foods. Microchemical Journal, v. 188, p. 6-pg., 2023-01-30. (21/02590-6, 18/07687-5)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GONÇALVES, Isabela Camargo. Development of green analytical strategies for the determination of protein and urea in foods. 2023. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/STB) Piracicaba.