Development of sensitive Mn@TiO2/RGO nanocomposite-based sensor for the detection of sunset yellow in food samples

Sunset yellow (SSY) is a synthetic azo dye that is widely employed in the food industries to improve the appearance, color, and texture of products. However, excessive usage of SSY could lead to toxicity and pathogenicity to human health and food safety. Hence, a reliable and sensitive electrochemical sensor for SSY detection in food samples is essential. In this study, we utilized a simple and cost-effective sonochemical methodology to fabricate Mn@TiO₂/RGO nanocomposite for the sensitive electrochemical detection of SSY. The crystallinity, composition, and morphology of the as-prepared Mn@TiO₂/RGO nanocomposite were analyzed using various systematic analytical techniques. The integration of Mn@TiO₂ and RGO nanoarchitecture demonstrated a high specific surface area, better conductivity, and outstanding synergistic effect that significantly enhanced the current response and electron transfer rate of the electrode material. The modified glassy carbon electrode with Mn@TiO₂/RGO/GCE achieved a dynamic linear range of 0.02–535.62 μM and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.028 μM in the determination of SSY using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Furthermore, the Mn@TiO₂/RGO/GCE sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity, stability, repeatability, and reproducibility in detecting SSY. The practicality of the fabricated sensor was also proved by successfully detecting trace levels of SSY in candy and mixed fruit juice samples with acceptable recoveries. This work introduces a low-cost and synergistic approach of cost-effective Mn@TiO₂ combined with RGO for analyzing food colorants in commercial products.