TAGRA 2024

Mold contamination of agricultural products poses a significant health threat to consumers. One of the most widespread and persistent toxins is mycotoxins, which are classified as class 1 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Agricultural products such as peanuts and hazelnuts are the most susceptible to mycotoxin contamination and are of economic importance due to their threat to human and animal health. In the field of biosensors and environmental monitoring, the synthesis and use of carbon-based nanomaterials in particular has increased the interest in nanotechnology. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), which are generally smaller than 10 nanometers in size, exhibit exceptional fluorescence, high stability, and low toxicity, making them suitable for various applications such as biological imaging, drug delivery, and contaminant detection. In this study, green fluorescent CQDs were synthesized from plant wastes using a new approach by pyrolysis, exhibiting remarkable stability, water solubility, and good biocompatibility. The fluorescence quantum yield of CQDs was measured as 0.04. Furthermore, CDs are very effective in detecting aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) mechanism, with a clear fluorescence emission peak seen at 451 nm. The photoluminescence properties of CDs were evaluated under various pH conditions and showed a blue shift and increased fluorescence intensity at pH 9–10, suggesting their potential use in pH-sensitive sensor applications. This eco-friendly and cost-effective synthesis method offers a promising alternative for AFB1 detection in food samples by using waste material to create valuable analytical tools. Conclusions Using the unique properties of CQDs, a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective detection platform that can be integrated into food safety monitoring systems was developed. This work not only contributes to the advancement of CQD synthesis from sustainable sources, but also addresses a critical need in food safety and environmental monitoring.