DEMOCHEM: Integrated system for mycotoxins detection

Abstract

In this paper, we present an integrated system to detect Ochratoxin A (OTA) in feed, food and beverage. Its characteristics of portability, simplicity, sensitivity, low cost and user friendly, make the system suitable to be used by unskilled personnel. The system is based on a commercial Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) plate coupled with an array of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) photosensors embedded in a PTFE chamber where the chromatographic analysis occurs. The characterization of the system demonstrates its ability to detect OTA contained in wheat, wine and beer with a minimum detectable quantity of 0.2ng and a standard deviation below 5%.