Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy as a Low-Cost Alternative for the Indirect Detection of Glyphosate-Based Products

Commercial glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used in agriculture. They can be environmental contaminants and may pose a risk to human health through water and the consumption of agricultural products. However, methods for detecting glyphosate in different matrices are expensive and tedious procedures because it is a challenging molecule to detect. Therefore, in this study, we employed surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a sensitive, simple, and rapid method to indirectly detect glyphosate in commercial glyphosate-based products with the ninhydrin reaction. The glyphosate-ninhydrin reaction product exhibits a band at approximately 567 nm in the visible light spectrum, and Raman analysis reveals two distinct peaks at 660 and 790 cm^-1 in the standard. This confirms that the peaks are consistent with commercial glyphosate-based products and directly related to the concentration of glyphosate. The proposed SERS method may be practical for analyzing environmental samples with relatively high concentrations when compared to regulated levels in some matrices or to those reported in other scientific studies. Although its application is mainly geared toward detection in high ranges, it is a functional method that can be adjusted to improve its sensitivity and adapt to different analytical conditions. Our results provide an effective strategy for detecting this pollutant, which is crucial for monitoring, controlling, and preventing population exposure. A reliable and straightforward glyphosate detection method can thus support environmental safety and public health.