Chitosan/silver nanocomposite membrane for rapid acrylamide detection in drinking water

Overview

This project develops a chitosan nanofiber/silver nanocomposite membrane integrated into a simple filter device for detecting acrylamide in drinking water. Acrylamide is a probable carcinogen that can form during high-temperature cooking and processing of certain foods, making reliable detection in water supplies an important public health priority. The solution combines surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), a technique that amplifies the molecular signals of target analytes on nanostructured metal surfaces, with a chitosan-based filtration membrane that captures and concentrates acrylamide in a single step. The result is a portable, easy-to-use tool that delivers laboratory-grade sensitivity without the need for complex sample preparation or specialized operators.

Technical specifications

Core technology:

• Chitosan nanofiber membrane fabricated via electrospinning, a process that produces fine, high-surface-area fibers ideal for capturing trace analytes
• Polydopamine-coated silver nanoparticles (PDA@AgNPs) immobilized on the membrane to create a "green" SERS-active substrate
• Membrane integrated into a prototype filter housing for one-step enrichment and detection

Performance targets:

• Limit of detection below 0.5 ppb (parts per billion) for acrylamide in drinking water
• Total analysis time under 5 minutes per sample
• Per-test cost under $5
• Designed for use with a portable Raman instrument for real-time, on-site measurement

Key advantages:

• Eliminates multi-step sample preparation by combining enrichment and SERS detection in one device
• Builds on validated prior work demonstrating rapid acrylamide detection using PDA@AgNPs composites, where limits of detection of 0.04 ppb in ultrapure water and 1 ppb in tap water were achieved
• Low-cost, accessible format suitable for routine water quality monitoring

Technology readiness level

The project is at an early-to-mid development stage with a six-month research plan. Phase one involves fabricating the chitosan membrane via electrospinning and preparing the PDA@AgNPs composites. Phase two focuses on immobilizing the silver nanocomposites onto the membrane and optimizing SERS performance for sensitivity and accuracy. Phase three integrates the optimized membrane into a prototype filter device to create the user-friendly CAN Tool. The final phase applies the tool to real drinking water samples using a portable Raman instrument and conducts validation studies to confirm sensitivity, accuracy, and field readiness. The research team brings complementary expertise in SERS substrate development and acrylamide validation using chromatography, supporting a credible path toward a deployable detection platform.