12 - Trends in functionalized NMs-based electrochemical sensors in the food and beverage industry

Abstract

The world exists with human activities. On the other hand, man takes place in the world with his nutrition and environmental acquisitions. With the increasing population, human activities are expected to increase gradually in recent years. Increasing activities will also increase the need for food. The food industry is one of the most important sectors in history and today. Today, increasing human population and diversification of human preferences have brought about radical changes. However, the presence of unhealthy and unfavorable foods is much in the market during this period. Techniques such as food processing, preservation, packaging were quite limited in previous periods. In the old food processing techniques, salting, curing, freezing, drying, pickling, and fumigation methods were mainly used. However, very important steps have been taken in these techniques recently. Especially, taking the desired properties in terms of electrical and chemical aspects of nanomaterials (NM) has brought important steps in food processing technologies. Sensor applications enriched in NMs have taken these features to the next level. Electrochemical systems (electrochemical sensors) that accompany this sensor technology are used extensively in food-producing facilities today. But another important area is its use for food and beverage processing plants. In this chapter, it is about the functioning of nanomaterials developed in recent years as electrochemical biosensors and their functioning for the food and beverage industry.