Fake fuel detector has other applications

The science behind a UK discovery applied in the area of fuel fraud detection has been reported for the first time in an academic journal.

Furthermore, its developer believes the technology could find uses in other chemical and medical applications, with the paper in the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy reporting its use to detect and riboflavin levels in a vitamin B complex tablet.

The stable silver colloid technology - based on silver nanoparticles which remain suspended indefinitely in solution), was developed and patented in the University of Lincoln's forensic laboratories by Professor Peter White and is marketed by DeCipher Pte Ltd.

The material is used to magnify the signal provided by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy - an increasingly popular technology for detection of molecules in very low concentrations whilst providing rich structural information -and is widely employed to detect and combat fuel fraud using a portable laser-based instrument.

Governments often tax or subsidise fuel products to generate revenues, or stimulate their economies, and both of these practices are subject to fraud. Fuel marking has been shown to be effective in controlling illegal activity.

White's colloid research work, which was patented in 2007, has been acknowledged as the first time a stable and reproducible silver colloid has been produced. White is currently working on other counterfeit detection projects in the Middle East and Denmark.

Other applications of SERS include authentication of artworks  and detecting counterfeit goods such as jewelry as well as bank notes.