Portable testing device speeds up food safety checks

Checking food safety without sending samples to a lab — it would save a lot of time. Chemist Gert Salentijn believes it’s possible. With a Vidi grant in hand, he is developing a portable testing device that allows producers to analyse their products directly on site.

Fast testing outside the lab

Normally, samples are sent to a laboratory equipped with large and expensive machines for liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. That takes time. “With this device, I’m bringing the lab to the sample,” says Salentijn. His idea is to combine both techniques in a small, easy-to-use instrument. The real innovation lies in the first step: the usual chromatograph is replaced by a small piece of paper that binds only the target compounds. Chemical groups are attached to the paper, allowing selective reactions with the substances being analysed.

Focus on natural toxins

The research focuses on pyrrolizidine alkaloids – natural toxins from plants that can end up in tea or herbal supplements through co-harvesting. “They are carcinogenic and damage the liver,” Salentijn explains. The challenge: there are more than six hundred variants, and many are very similar. “Within the group there are also many isomers. Separating them is really a challenge.” His approach is smart. By attaching metal ions to the compounds, he creates unique fingerprints. “That produces multiple mass spectra for each compound and therefore a much richer fingerprint.”

From lab to practice

The chemistry is ready; now it’s time for practical application. Together with end users, the device is being further developed to make it suitable for daily use. 3D printers are used to determine the most functional design. As a test case, the team is also looking at microcystins – toxins from blue-green algae that affect water quality in summer but are also used in dietary supplements. Two PhD candidates will continue the project and bring it further into practice.

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