RAPID AND GROSS SCREENING FOR Pb3O4 ADULTERANT IN GROUND SWEET RED PAPRIKA BY MEANS OF PHOTOACOUSTIC SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract The potential of photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy as a candidate method for rapid detection of gross amounts of red lead (Pb3O4) adulterant in a ground sweet red paprika was demonstrated. Linear relationship between the magnitude of PA signal at 545 nm and the concentration of red lead was found within 10% (w/w) to 50% (w/w). The limit of detection of a present PA spectrometer is 2% w/w Pb3O4.