Insecure food additive sensing with photonic crystal fibre in terahertz regime
Md. Abdullah-Al-Shafi, Shuvo Sen, Mashiyat Mubassera
Abstract
Food security and the challenges of food sterility, storage, chemical additives, enzymes, and microorganisms are critical due to their direct impact on human and animal health. Advanced monitoring technologies are essential for ensuring food safety and promoting eco-friendly practices. Early detection and real-time monitoring of sensitive substances, chemicals, biomolecules, and hazardous agents are vital. This research introduces a photonic crystal fibre (PCF) nanosensor designed for detecting food additives. Using COMSOL Multiphysics software, the sensor’s numerical performance was analyzed with test analytes—saccharin, sorbitol, and butyl acetate—across a wavelength range of 0.8 to 3 THz. The sensor demonstrated high sensitivities of 88.90%, 90.85%, and 86.95%, and low confinement losses of 5.05 × 10−08, 6.05 × 10−08, and 5.40 × 10−08 dB/m at 1 THz. These results confirm the sensor’s effectiveness for real-time detection and its potential for enhancing food safety standards through precise, eco-friendly monitoring.