Title:Smartphone-assisted Colorimetric Detection of Hg (II) in an Organized Medium Applying Polyethylene Glycol Monododecyl Ether Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles
Volume: 22
Issue: 7
Author(s): Sarzamin Khan*, Sabeela Rehman, Nazish Huma Khan, Waseeq Khan, Jawad Ali, Carlos A. T. Toloza, Tahir -, Eman Alzahrani and Zaibi .*
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry, University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Anbar, 23561, Pakistan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Anbar, 23561, Pakistan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Anbar, 23561, Pakistan
Keywords:
PGME-AgNPs, colorimetric, mercury, RGB, aqueous sample, surface plasmon resonance, portable sensor.
Abstract:
Background: Mercury (Hg) is a highly neurotoxic pollutant present in different environmental
matrices. Herein, a simple and sensitive assay is proposed for Hg detection in environmental
water samples employing polyethylene glycol monododecyl ether (PGME) stabilized silver nanoparticles
(PGME-AgNPs).
Methods: The prepared PGME-AgNPs were characterized by absorption, scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Zeta potential
measurements. The addition of Hg(II) to an aqueous matrix changed the color of the sensor, following
a decrease in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band intensity.
Results: The detected response was proportional to Hg (II) concentrations and the analytical response
comprised a change in absorbance versus concentrations from 4.0 to 24 × 10-8 mol L-1 (0.8 –
4.8 μg L-1) and the limit of detection (LOD) was 4.0 nmol L-1 (0.08 μg L-1). Additionally, the sensor
was integrated with the RGB color values of a smartphone, enabling its use as a portable sensor
for rapid Hg(II) at a concentration level ranging from 6.0 to 24 × 10-8 mol L-1 (1.2 - 4.8 μg L-1).
Spectrophotometric and RGB color value-based approaches were applied for the quantification of
Hg(II) in real water samples with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 98.5 to 105%.
Conclusion: The proposed colorimetric method with a smart assisted approach was proven a very
simple, and quick method, demonstrating practical applicability for on-site Hg screening of aqueous
matrices.
