The Use of Smart Devices for the Detection of Aflatoxin in Grinded Corn Feeds
Dr. Gil Nonato C. Santos
17 September 2018 (Monday), 2:00PM
St. La Salle Hall, Main Lobby, De La Salle University

Abstract:
Aflatoxin contaminates agricultural commodities, plants or animal derived food, in warm and humid conditions primarily in tropical countries such as the Philippines. Although the type and degree of contamination is dependent on its concentration, its effect becomes critical when biomagnified. In this study, a rapid, simple and portable detection was developed. A smart-device sensor was used to measure the pH of the samples with aflatoxin and compared it with the pH of pure samples. Concentrations in parts per billion (ppb) were calculated for each of the samples from the obtained pH readings; Cyclic voltammetry was also conducted to further study the electrochemical properties of the mixture with aflatoxin.

About the author:

Dr. Prof. Gil Nonato C. Santos is a Full Professor and Vice Chancellor for DLSU Laguna Campus. He has an undergraduate and graduate degree in Physics at De La Salle University and University of the Philippines and a Doctorate degree in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman National Institute of Physics. He is a Research Fellow at the University of Fukui doing research of nanocomposite materials and its terahertz applications, and Visiting Professor in Osaka University Quantum Engineering Laboratory and at Howard University’s Atmospheric Science Research Laboratory . He is the Research Head of the Solid State Physics Laboratory, Inanolab research facility, and has published local and international publications in Nanomaterials. He has a patent work for growing nanomaterials called the horizontal vapor phase growth (HVPG) technique. He is the Convenor of Philippine Association of Physics and Science Instructors and was awarded Most Outstanding Physics Educator in 2010 by the Philippine Physics Society. In 2012, he was a recipient of the Challenge Grant for establishing an Air Weather Observation System for De La Salle Philippines and Volunteer Schools called SIGWA (Students Involve in Geophysical Weather and Atmospheric studies) and an AKI grant for developing a nanosensor for detecting meat spoilage. He also obtained a research grant from DOST for developing Tin Oxide Silver Nanocomposite materials for antiheat and antibacterial applications, a US Aid Carwin Grant for developing nanocomposite materials for anticorrosion and antibarnacle applications for ship hull and development of a nanosensor for detecting lung diseases, and a CHED DARETO Grant for developing a nanosensor for animal feeds.

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