H2O2-assisted detection of melamine using fluorescent probe based on corn cob carbon dots-Ionic Liquid-Silver nanoparticles

In this work, a new sustainable melamine detection method was developed. Biomass-derived carbon dots (CDs) were successfully prepared by ionic liquid (1-Allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, IL) hydrothermal method using agricultural waste corn cob as the carbon source, and combined with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to construct fluorescent probe CDs@IL-AgNPs. The probe was characterized and the formation mechanism of the probe was discussed. The direct detection of H2O2 and the indirect sensitive detection of melamine were realized. The detection limit of melamine was 0.94 mu mol/L, which is far lower than the minimum allowable amount of melamine in milk powder (7.95 mu mol/L). The high sensitivity and selectivity probe was used to detect melamine in commercial dairy products, and the recovery rate of standard addition was between 94 % and 110 %. This study provides valuable new application ideas for the detection of melamine in dairy products and the lowcarbon and environmentally friendly treatment of agricultural waste.