The present invention includes a device and associated analytical method to use for the sensitive detection and accurate, rapid determination of
acrylamide in food substances. The present invention also relates to the use of a
kit device and associated analytical method in which a user can quickly and easily ascertain the amount of
acrylamide in food substances with ease and in any location, including a non-laboratory environment. Such detection device and method may be comprised of a
sample collection area on which a sample of food, after being mixed in a solution, is placed for example on the substrate of a
biochip that includes an
enzyme that along with a co-
enzyme or form of energy or catalyst, facilitates the conversion of either
acrylamide to
acrylonitrile or the conversion of acrylamide to
ammonia. If acrylamide is detected in the sample food substance, the
resultant concentration, as determined on the calorimetric scale, provides the
consumer of the food substance an opportunity to reject or discard the substance prior to
digestion, thus promoting good health and avoiding potential
ingestion of relatively high concentrations of carcinogenic potent acrylamides. Another variation of the detection device above may utilize
pH balance meter and
system similar to the calorimetric
system utilized above, but which allows a numeric or
digital reading of the concentration of acrylamides present in the sample of food. Another variation of the detection device may utilize
infrared (IR) detection using an IR sensor to measure a sample and quantify the concentration of
acrylonitrile within the sample by an absorption peak of the carbon-
nitrogen (C≡N)
triple bond in
acrylonitrile in an IR spectra at 2250 cm−1
wavelength.