Determination of hydrogen peroxide in milk by fluorometric method using chitosan-coumarin film sensor
محورهای موضوعی : food quality controlKatayoun Karimi 1 , Maryam Gharachorloo 2 , Afshin Fallah 3
1 - PhD Student of the Department of Food Science and Technology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Professor of the Department of Food Science and Technology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Associate Professor of Department of Statistics, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
کلید واژه: Hydrogen peroxide, sensor, milk, photoluminescence, chitosan,
چکیده مقاله :
ABSTRACT: Accurate determination of hydrogen peroxide is of great importance from a public health standpoint. In this work, determination of hydrogen peroxide in milk was performed using chitosan-coumarin film sensor via a fluorometric method. Coumain-3-carboxylic acid (CCA) was used as a probe in the matrix of chitosan. The structures of the films were confirmed by various instrumental analysis including FT-IR, TGA, and SEM. Various parameters such as the amount of CCA, pH, and the effect of catalyst on the response of the sensor were investigated. The results indicated that ultraviolet radiation could improve the response of the sensor. Hydrogen peroxide was determined using this method in the range of 12-200 μM and 0.5-8.0 mM. The calibration plots demonstrated that the fluorescence response of the sensor films was linear over hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 12-200 µM and 500-8000 µM, with a detection limit (LOD) of 3 µM.
ABSTRACT: Accurate determination of hydrogen peroxide is of great importance from a public health standpoint. In this work, determination of hydrogen peroxide in milk was performed using chitosan-coumarin film sensor via a fluorometric method. Coumain-3-carboxylic acid (CCA) was used as a probe in the matrix of chitosan. The structures of the films were confirmed by various instrumental analysis including FT-IR, TGA, and SEM. Various parameters such as the amount of CCA, pH, and the effect of catalyst on the response of the sensor were investigated. The results indicated that ultraviolet radiation could improve the response of the sensor. Hydrogen peroxide was determined using this method in the range of 12-200 μM and 0.5-8.0 mM. The calibration plots demonstrated that the fluorescence response of the sensor films was linear over hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 12-200 µM and 500-8000 µM, with a detection limit (LOD) of 3 µM.
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Journal of Food Biosciences and Technology,
Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Vol. 15, No. 2, 31-45, 2025
https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.22287086.2021.11.2.1.5
Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide in Milk by Fluorometric Method using Chitosan-Coumarin Film Sensor
K. Karimi a, M. Gharachorloo a*, A. Fallah b
a PhD Student of the Department of Food Science and Technology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
a Professor of the Department of Food Science and Technology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
b Associate Professor of Department of Statistics, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.
Received: 26 September 2025 Accepted: 10 October 2025
ABSTRACT: Accurate determination of hydrogen peroxide is of great importance from a public health standpoint. In this work, determination of hydrogen peroxide in milk was performed using chitosan-coumarin film sensor via a fluorometric method. Coumain-3-carboxylic acid (CCA) was used as a probe in the matrix of chitosan. The structures of the films were confirmed by various instrumental analysis including FT-IR, TGA, and SEM. Various parameters such as the amount of CCA, pH, and the effect of catalyst on the response of the sensor were investigated. The results indicated that ultraviolet radiation could improve the response of the sensor. Hydrogen peroxide was determined using this method in the range of 12-200 μM and 0.5-8.0 mM. The calibration plots demonstrated that the fluorescence response of the sensor films was linear over hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 12-200 µM and 500-8000 µM, with a detection limit (LOD) of 3 µM.
Keywords: Chitosan, Hydrogen Peroxide, Milk, Photoluminescence, Sensor.
Introduction1
Food safety is a critical public health issue. The primary goal is to control hazards, including biological, chemical, and physical contaminants. Effective controls are essential at all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption (Gizaw, 2019). Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has significant importance in food safety due to its powerful antimicrobial properties. It acts as a disinfectant and sterilizing agent, to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and molds. Consequently, it is applied in various food industry processes, such as the aseptic packaging of dairy products and the sanitization of food contact surfaces. Therefore, monitoring hydrogen peroxide is crucial in certain foods (Sadowska-Bartosz & Bartosz, 2025). Excessive levels of hydrogen peroxide may indicate spoilage or pose a safety risk to consumers. Hydrogen peroxide can enter the milk at any stage of milking, transportation and processing (Ivanova et al., 2019). In some countries, H2O2 may be added to raw milk as a preservative (10-15 mM) (Walstra et al., 2006), but it can be removed before milk processing by adding catalase. In addition, hydrogen peroxide may be added as an adulterating agent to increase the shelf life of milk. The presence of hydrogen peroxide in food products can lead to serious health problems for humans. Various methods have been applied for determination of hydrogen peroxide in milk, including amperometric detection (Guascito et al., 2008), Polarography (Domergue et. al., 2023), colorimetric detection (Nitinaivinij et. al., 2014), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Ivanova et al., 2019), fluorescence method (Abo et al., 2011), chemiluminescence (Vasconcelos et al., 2023), spectroscopic methods, chemometrics methods, and use of chemical sensors (Shariati-Rad et al., 2017). Photoluminescence methods offer significant advantages for chemical sensing. They provide high sensitivity, excellent selectivity, rapid measurements, and allow for non-destructive analysis. Furthermore, the technique can be adapted for real-time monitoring (Wang et al., 2013). These benefits make photoluminescence a powerful tool for various applications. Chemical sensors are of critical importance for monitoring and analysis of numerous fields (Kim et al., 2024). The important factors that should be considered for design of a chemical sensor are sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), selectivity, response time, stability and reproducibility, real-world applicability, simplicity and cost. For food safety, they monitor quality and spoilage. A key advantage of chemical sensors is their potential for real-time, on-site analysis. This eliminates the need for time-consuming laboratory tests. While several methods exist for hydrogen peroxide detection, many are complex, time-consuming, or unsuitable for direct application in food matrices like milk. Therefore, the development of sensitive and selective chemical sensors is essential for advancing public health, safety, and technological innovation.
In this study, we aimed to develop a novel, fluorescence-based sensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide in milk. This was achieved by synthesizing a chemical film sensor based on chitosan and coumarin carboxylic acid. Chitosan is a natural biopolymer derived from chitin. It is known for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity (Thambiliyagodage et al., 2023). It serves as an excellent matrix for developing chemical sensors and active packaging materials. Its versatility makes it a valuable polymer for enhancing food safety and quality. The proposed sensor is unique due to its high selectivity, simplicity, and applicability to complex food samples like milk. The paper details the sensor fabrication, optimization of analytical parameters, and its successful application in spiked milk samples. The key advantage of this approach is its ability to perform measurements directly in milk with minimal sample preparation, addressing a significant need for on-site food safety monitoring. The analytical performance (LOD, LOQ, linear range), and recovery studies in milk samples were also discussed.
Materials and Methods
- Materials
Chitosan (High molecular weight, MW=310-375 kDa, and 75-85% DD), gelatin, CCA, copper (II) sulfate, cobalt (II) sulfate, manganese (II) sulfate, and zinc sulfate were prepared from Sigma-Aldrich Co. Nicke l(II) sulfate, iron (II) sulfate, cadmium sulfate, and silver nitrate was obtained from Merck Millipore.
- Instrumental characterization
The FT-IR of the samples (in the form of KBr tablets) were obtained by an Bruker infrared spectrometer, Tensor 27, Germany. The fluorescence spectra were acquired using a Hitachi fluorescence spectrometer, F-2700, Japan. The UV-Vis spectra were achieved using a CamSpec optical spectrometer, M350, England. In order to homogenize the solutions an ultrasonic bath (340 Watts, WiseClean, 50 Hz) was used. Surface morphology of the samples was obtained by a ESEM (Quanta 200) after freeze-drying at -40oC by a freeze dryer (SBPE, Iran). TGA analysis was performed by a Perkin Elmer analyzer (Diamond Pyris, USA), under nitrogen atmosphere at a heating rate of 20 °C/min.
- Preparation of iron (II) sulfate solution
In order to prepare the iron (II) sulfate solution, 0.3 grams of iron (II) sulfate (FeSO₄) was accurately weighed using a balance and dissolved in a sufficient amount of distilled water in a beaker. The resulting solution was then transferred to a volumetric flask and brought to a volume of 500 mL by adding distilled water (Li et al., 2025). Subsequently, determined volumes of this solution were used in each plate using a graduated pipette.
- Preparation of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid solution
In order to prepare the coumarin carboxylic acid solution, 0.10 g of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid was accurately weighed using a balance and dispersed in 40 mL of distilled water. While this mixture was being stirred using a magnetic stirrer, 1 mL of 1.0 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution was added dropwise, and stirring of the resulting mixture continued until the sample was completely dissolved. It is necessary to heat the mixture gently (Islas et al., 2018). The color of the solution becomes pale lemon-yellow. Then, determined volumes of this solution (including 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mL) were
used in each plate.
- Preparation of the film sensor
Sensor films based on chitosan-coumarin carboxylic acid were prepared by casting method (Myers et al., 2014). In a 100 mL beaker, specified amounts of a high molecular weight chitosan solution (30 mL, containing 0.375 g of chitosan) and a gelatin solution (7.0 mL, containing 0.075 g of gelatin) were combined in an 80:20 weight ratio (chitosan to gelatin). Next, a coumarin carboxylic acid solution (volumes of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 mL) was added dropwise to the stirring mixture until it became completely homogeneous. While the solution was being vigorously stirred using a magnetic stirrer, 0.3 mL of an iron (II) sulfate solution was added dropwise to achieve a uniform mixture. The resulting solution was poured into a plastic plate and placed in an oven at 70°C for 3 days. After drying, the resulting films were transparent.
- Preparation of milk serum
In order to prepare the milk serum, 10.0 mL of the milk sample was first poured into each centrifuge tube and 120 microliters of acetic acid was added to each tube (Walstra et al., 2006). The samples were then centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 15 minutes. The clear serum contents were then filtered using a 0.45 μm Teflon syringe filter. This step was performed to remove any suspended particles in the serum that might not have been separated during the centrifugation stage or that may have entered the serum during decanting
Mukhopadhya et al., 2021).
- Fluorescence Response Measurement
In order to measure the fluorescence response of the sensor films in a hydrogen peroxide solution, a specific amount (0.04 g) of each film was dispersed and dissolved in 10 mL of a determined concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution using a magnetic stirrer for one hour. Subsequently, the samples were placed inside a protective box under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (100-watt mercury lamp) at a fixed distance. The fluorescence of solutions was measured at specific time intervals using an excitation wavelength of 350 nm.
- Limit of detection and limit of quantification
The Limit of Detection (LOD) and the Limit of Quantification (LOQ) are defined as the minimum concentration of an analyte that can be reliably detected and quantified, respectively (Harris, 2007). For this purpose, the standard deviation of 10 blank samples was measured and averaged. The LOD was then calculated using equation 1.
LOD = 3Sb / m (1)
In this equation, Sb is the standard deviation of the blank, and m is the slope of the calibration curve. The LOQ was calculated according to the following equation:
LOQ = 10Sb / m (2)
The recovery experiment was applied to investigate the matrix effects (Harris, 2007), and calculated using the following equation:
R (%) = (F - I) / A × 100 (3)
Where, A is the concentration of the analyte added to the solution, F is analyte concentration for spiked solution, and I is analyte concentration for unspiked solution (without the added analyte).
- Statistical Analysis
Each experiment was performed in
three to five replicates. The results are presented as the mean, standard deviation (SD), and relative standard deviation (RSD). In order to determine the limit of detection (LOD), each test was repeated 10 times, after which the standard deviation and mean were calculated. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 20) with a significant level of p < 0.05.
Results and Discussion
- Synthesis and characterizations
To prepare chitosan-coumarin carboxylic acid-based sensor films (Cs/Ge-Fe-CCA), high molecular weight chitosan and gelatin were used. Gelatin was employed to reduce the viscosity of the chitosan solution, facilitate the sample preparation process, and improve the properties of the films. Iron ions act as a catalyst and facilitate the formation of hydroxyl radicals in reaction with hydrogen peroxide. The H2O2 concentration was determined using a fluorometric method based on the hydroxyl radical-mediated oxidation of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (CCA). CCA was selected as a suitable fluorophore agent. This compound reacts with the hydroxyl radical to form 7-hydroxy-CCA, which produces fluorescence emission in the range of 400-500 nm with an excitation wavelength of around 350 nm (Figure 1). The structure of the synthesized sensor film was studied by FT-IR spectroscopy. Chitosan characteristic absorptions appeared in the region of 3600-13200 cm-1, 1657 cm-1, 1600 cm-1, 1417 cm-1, and 1092 cm-1, which are related to the stretching vibrations of the H-O and H-N bonds, stretching vibrations of the carbonyl group correspond to the remaining acetyl group, the bending vibrations of the H-N bond, the bending vibrations of the H-C bond, and the stretching vibrations of the C-O bond, respectively (Figure 2). A comparison of the FT-IR spectra related to chitosan and the sensor film prepared based on chitosan- coumarin carboxylic acid shows that the bandwidth in the region of 800-2000 cm⁻¹ has changed. This indicates an alteration in the intermolecular hydrogen bonds of chitosan due to its interaction with gelatin and carboxylic acid groups of CCA.
The surface morphology of the sensor film was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Before imaging, the samples were first swollen in an aqueous environment and then dried using a freeze dryer at -70°C. As shown in Figure 3, the films have a porous structure, which is likely due to swelling in the aqueous environment. The X-ray mapping image of the sensor film shows a uniform distribution of ions throughout the film structure.
[1] * Corresponding Author: maryam.gharachorloo@iau.ac.ir
Fig. 1. The proposed structure of the film sensor and fluorescence emission at 445 nm.
Fig. 2. FT-IR spectra of chitosan, and film sensor.
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the sensor film compared to chitosan is shown in Figure 4. The initial weight loss of the samples up to approximately 120 °C is related to the evaporation of water. Chitosan shows a 30–35% weight loss between 200–350 °C, which corresponds to the thermal degradation of the polymer
backbone (through depolymerization and deacetylation). An additional weight loss of 20–30% above 400 °C up to 800 °C is due to carbonization and the breakdown of residual organic matter. Introducing Fe2⁺ ions into the chitosan films shifts the onset temperature of thermal degradation to a lower range.
Fig. 3. SEM images of Cs/Ge-CCA films with magnification of 2000x and 5000x (a,b), Cs/Ge-Fe-CCA film sensor with magnification of 2000x and 5000x (c,d), X-ray mapping analysis for the dispersion of iron ions (e), the sensor contains iron catalyst (with a concentration of 10⁻⁴ molar) with magnification of 5000x (f), after freeze-drying.
Fig. 5. DTG of the sensor film compared to the chitosan, and sensor film contains iron catalyst (with a concentration of 10⁻⁴ molar, Fe10).
This phenomenon is attributed to the interaction between Fe2⁺ ions and the functional groups of chitosan, particularly the amino and hydroxyl groups. The ions can form complexes with chitosan, reducing the energy required to break its chemical bonds. Furthermore, Fe2⁺ ions may act as catalysts, accelerating the decomposition process and thereby lowering the degradation onset temperature. Consequently, the presence of transition metals like iron tends to reduce the overall thermal stability of the film compared to pure chitosan.
However, while Fe2⁺ ions initially lower the onset temperature, increasing their concentration can enhance thermal stability at higher temperatures (e.g., above 400 °C). At these high temperatures, the ions may form iron oxides within the matrix, which act as thermal insulators and stabilize the charred structure (Figure 4, Fe10). In the DTG analysis, pure chitosan typically exhibits a sharp degradation peak due to its relatively loose polymer structure (Figure 5). In contrast, the chitosan–iron film exhibits a broader and shifted peak, indicating a slower and more gradual degradation process. This slower degradation rate is due to metal coordination interactions: Fe2⁺ ions coordinate with the amino and hydroxyl groups in chitosan, creating a cross-linked structure. This structure reduces polymer chain mobility, increasing the thermal resistance of the polymer chains to breakdown.
- Effect of the amount of coumarin carboxylic acid
The effect of the amount of coumarin carboxylic acid on the fluorescence response of the films was investigated (Figure 6). The results showed that the fluorescence response of the films increases by increasing the amount of coumarin carboxylic acid up to approximately 1.25% by weight. This is attributed to the increased population of fluorescent molecules. The decrease in the fluorescence response of the films with further increase in coumarin carboxylic acid beyond 1.25% by weight is related to the reaction of 7-hydroxycoumarin carboxylic acid with the hydroxyl radical (Rutely, et al., 2018). Therfore, the amount of 1.25% by weight of coumarin carboxylic acid was selected as the optimal value.
- Effect of catalyst
The effect of the type of metal ions as catalysts on the response of the sensors was investigated. The results are presented in Figure 7. The highest response was obtained in the presence of iron ions. The classic Fenton reaction describes the activation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) by ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) to generate hydroxyl radicals through a complex reaction sequence (Fig. 8).
Fig. 6. The effect of the amount of coumarin carboxylic acid on the fluorescence response of the films in the presence or absence of UV (H2O2 1.0 mM, irradiation time 30 min, and Ex. 360 nm).
- Effect of pH
The pH of a solution is one of the important factors in the study of fluorescence systems. Therefore, the fluorescence intensity of the prepared films was investigated as a function of pH. The results are presented in Figure 9. As shown in this figure, the highest response is observed at pH = 3. Coumarin-3-carboxylic acid exhibits a protonation-deprotonation equilibrium with pKa = 3.3–3.7 due to the presence of the carboxyl group (Nafradi et al., 2020). Therefore, at pH = 3, the protonated form of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid is dominant, which shows the highest fluorescence intensity. it is observed that with a further decrease in pH, the fluorescence intensity decreases again with a milder slope. The results of the ANOVA statistical test indicate that there is a significant difference between the various catalyst groups.
Fig. 7. Effect of catalyst on the fluorescence response of the film sensor (H2O2 2.0 mM, irradiation time 35 min, Ex. 360 nm.)
Fig. 8. The reaction of iron ions with hydrogen peroxide and the formation of hydroxyl radicals.
Fig. 9. Effect of pH on the fluorescence response of the film sensor (H2O2 1.0 mM, irradiation time 30 min, Ex. 360 nm.
-Effect of irradiation time
Coumarins are known as light-sensitive aromatic compounds and can undergo photoexcitation in the presence of ultraviolet light (Zhou et al., 2024). The fluorescence response of the sensors to different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide was investigated. Figure 10 shows that the fluorescence response significantly increases with extended ultraviolet irradiation time, reaching its maximum after approximately 45 minutes. Then, it slightly decreases with further irradiation. The production of hydroxyl radicals increases with increasing the ultraviolet irradiation intensity, leading to a higher concentration of 7-hydroxy coumarin carboxylic acid. The decrease in fluorescence intensity after 45 minutes can be attributed to the reaction of 7-hydroxycoumarin carboxylic acid with hydroxyl radicals, which competes with the formation of 7-hydroxycoumarin and leads to a reduction in the population of fluorescing molecules (Rutely et al., 2018). Calibration plots established a linear relationship between the fluorescence response of the produced sensor films and hydrogen peroxide concentrations in the ranges of 12-200 µM and 500-8000 µM. The statistical analysis results demonstrate a very strong correlation between the hydrogen peroxide concentration and the fluorescence response of the sensor (R=0.96, R=0.99). The obtained model is also statistically highly significant (p<<0.05).
- Selectivity in milk samples
The selectivity of the sensor towards hydrogen peroxide and other milk additives was investigated. To evaluate selectivity, the response of the sensor in milk serum was tested against various types of substances that are the most common additives in milk adulteration. The results showed that the sensor is highly selective for hydrogen peroxide, and its response to other compounds is very weak (Figure 11). Statistical analysis (ANOVA) indicates that the response of the sensor to hydrogen peroxide is significantly different from its response to other substances (p << 0.05), demonstrating that the sensor has very high selectivity for hydrogen peroxide and can effectively distinguish it from other additives in milk.
Fig. 10. The fluorescence response of film sensor to different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide under UV irradiation at pH=3.
- Recovery test in milk samples
Recovery tests are typically performed to investigate the effect of the real sample matrix on the response of sensor (Ardila et al., 2013). The recovery experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the milk serum matrix on the response of the sensor (Table 1). Hydrogen peroxide was selected at three different concentrations and added to the milk samples. The recovery of hydrogen peroxide was obtained in the range of 97% to 105% for the samples. The relative standard deviation (RSD) is less than 5%, indicating that the fluorescence sensor has good reliability for measuring hydrogen peroxide in milk samples.
- Comparison with other sensors
Table 2 shows the performance of the produced sensor, compared to a number of other hydrogen peroxide sensors. Typically, comparable parameters include the detection range or linear range, detection limit, sensor response speed, and selectivity. An ideal sensor possesses a wide detection range, a low detection limit, a fast response speed, and high selectivity. As shown, the developed sensor demonstrates competitive performance for hydrogen peroxide detection. Furthermore, it functions well over a wide range of concentrations, which is of great practical importance.
Fig. 11. Selectivity of the sensor towards hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 2.0 mM, irradiation time 30 min, Ex. 360 nm, additive 5 mM).
Table 1. The results of the recovery tests in milk samples
Milk sample | Added (μM) | Found (μM) | R.S.D (%) | Recovery (%) |
M1 | 1000 | 1051 | 4.6 | 104.8 |
| 2000 | 1953 | 3.1 | 97.5 |
| 4000 | 4074 | 2.17 | 101.7 |
M2 | 1000 | 1035 | 4.96 | 103.2 |
| 2000 | 2096 | 3.5 | 104.75 |
| 4000 | 3937 | 2.8 | 98.3 |
M3 | 1000 | 990 | 4.72 | 98.8 |
| 2000 | 2081 | 2.83 | 103.9 |
| 4000 | 4078 | 2.65 | 101.8 |
Tabl 2. Comparison of the Cs/Ge-Fe-CCA film sensor with the other sensors
Ref. | Selectivity | RT | Detection Range (mM) | LOD (µM) | Type | Sensor/Biosensor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | fast | 0.01-0.5 | 4.6 | Ch | HRP/Luminol sensor | |
Zhao et al., 2021 | ü | fast | 0.1-30 | 20 | E | Composite of pyrite and silver nanoparticle |
ü | fast | 0.05-0.2 0.2-10 | 3.3 | E | ||
ü | fast | 0.001-0.05 | 0.046 | E | ||
- | within 3 min | 0.0017-0.167 | 1.1 | C | ||
Lima et al., 2020 | low | slow | 1.25-15 | 0.35 | C | |
ü | slow | 0.005-0.5 | 1.4 | C | Nano-composites of MoS2 nanosheets and CNT in the presence of TMB | |
ü | fast | 0.005-0.2 | 0.34 | F | ||
Liu et al., 2022 | ü | fast | 0.0001-0.1 | 0.047 | F | Nanohybrid of carbon dots and nanoceria (CeO2) |
This work | ü | fast | 0.012-0.2 0.5-8 | 3 | F | Cs/Ge-Fe-CCA film sensor |
Conclusion
In this work a novel film sensor (CS/Ge-Fe-CCA) was designed for determination of hydrogen peroxide in milk by a fluorometric method using a photo-Fenton-like process. The use of the sensors provides a rapid method for measuring hydrogen peroxide with high sensitivity using a photo-Fenton mechanism. Uniform distribution of iron ions in the film structure was demonstrated by X-ray mapping. The results showed that by increasing the iron ion catalysts up to an optimal value (10⁻⁵ M), the fluorescence response of the sensors increases. Furthermore, ultraviolet irradiation has a significant impact on the response of the sensors. The optimal UV irradiation time for the sensors was 45 minutes. The prepared sensor films were compared with other sensors for hydrogen peroxide detection. The results showed that the produced sensors have very high selectivity for detecting hydrogen peroxide. The practical value of the fluorescent sensors was demonstrated by their application in detecting hydrogen peroxide in milk samples. However, the fluorescent sensor has limitations in real samples at very low hydrogen peroxide concentrations due to the matrix effect. Consequently, in milk samples, sensitivity of the sensor depends on the degree of milk filtration. The recovery of hydrogen peroxide was obtained in the range of 97% to 105% for the samples. The relative standard deviation (RSD) is less than 5%, indicating that the produced fluorescent sensors have good reliability for measuring hydrogen peroxide. Among the advantages of the sensor are simple preparation, low cost, high sensitivity, biocompatibility, fast response, good stability, and the synergistic effect of ultraviolet irradiation. Other characteristics of these sensors, such as their shelf life, high sensitivity, and rapid response, suggest that the sensor is suitable for the rapid and accurate detection of hydrogen peroxide in different industries, particularly in the food industry.
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