Page 330 - AWSAR 2.0

306 || AWSAR Awarded Popular Science Stories - 2019 Ms. Oyahida Khatun
Development of a Simple and Cost-effective Point of Detection Device (PODD) to Estimate Morpholine Content in Coated Fruits and Vegetables
Mr. V. Srinivasa Rao*
Email: nivschem@gmail.com
An apple a day keeps a doctor away is a well-known, age-old adage, which we have heard since our childhood. It’s true that consumption of an apple has marvellous health benefits due to its richness in antioxidants, flavanoids and dietary fibres, which act as soldiers against several life- threatening conditions, especially cancers. However, can anyone guess which apple do we prefer the most for eating? Is that the glazed, shining red one or the light, dull one? Obviously the former one, but “Behind every beauty there will be danger too”. Let’s try to trace this from the story of morpholine for a better understanding of the saying.
Morpholine (in chemical nomenclature called as 1-oxa-4-azacyclohexane) is a simple organic, water-soluble chemical, which is
commonly used as a coating material to make fruits and vegetables appear eye-catching, and also to save them from attack by oxygen and microbes, which are the key causative factors behind their spoilage. Apart from that it is widely used in other areas like rubber industry, corrosion control, drug synthesis, personal care, cigarette snuff, crop protection, optical brighteners, lyocell process, thermal and nuclear plants.
Morpholine alone does not pose any health risks, but the moment when it combines with atmospheric/ dietary nitrates through a chemical reaction, Nitrosation, it will soon start behaving like an enemy named N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR), which is a product of the reaction. In terms of science and medicine this product is a carcinogen
* Mr. V. Srinivasa Rao, PhD Scholar from Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Telangana, is pursuing his research on “Synthesis and Evaluation of Phytochemical - Metformin Conjugates for Ameliorating the Clinical Symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome in Diet-Induced Experimental Obesity”. His popular science story entitled “Development of a Simple and Cost-Effective Point of Detection Device (PODD) to Estimate Morpholine Content in Coated Fruits and Vegetables” has been selected for AWSAR Award.