Highly Selective and Ultrasensitive Turn-on Luminescence Chemosensor for Mercury (II) Determination Based on the Rhodamine 6G Derivative FC1 and Au Nanoparticles.

Romina Brasca,María Onaindia,Héctor Goicoechea,Arsenio Peña,María Culzoni

doi:10.3390/s16101652

Abstract

A method for the detection and quantitation of Hg2+ in aqueous samples by fluorescence spectroscopy is presented. It consists of a turn-on sensor developed by coupling Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with the rhodamine 6G derivative FC1, in which the response is generated by a mercury-induced ring-opening reaction. The AuNPs were included in order to improve the sensitivity of the method towards the analyte, maintaining its high selectivity. The method was validated in terms of linearity, precision and accuracy, and applied to the quantitation of Hg2+ in Milli-Q and tap water with and without spiked analyte. The limit of detection and quantitation were 0.15 μg·L−1 and 0.43 μg·L−1, respectively, constituting a substantial improvement of sensitivity in comparison with the previously reported detection of Hg2+ with free FC1.

Highlights

Mercury contamination of ecosystems occurs through a variety of natural and anthropogenic sources
According thesize size distribution achieved by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
The FC1–AuNPs sensor proved to be selective for Hg2+ and provides lower limit of detection and quantification, i.e., 0.15 μg·L−1 and 0.43 μg·L−1, respectively, than those previously reported in the literature, constituting a substantial improvement regarding sensitivity in the detection of Hg2+

Summary

Introduction

Mercury contamination of ecosystems occurs through a variety of natural and anthropogenic sources. These sources include oceanic and volcanic emissions, forest fires, gold mining, solid waste incineration, and the combustion of fossil fuels, resulting in increasing levels of Hg2+. Emissions into the air, soil and water. Inorganic mercury can cause a wide range of diseases such as digestive, heart, kidney and especially neurological disorders [1]. A major absorption source is related to daily food such as fish. It is important to monitor Hg2+ levels in aquatic ecosystems as a potential source of contamination, since the situation becomes increasingly serious to the living environment of humans and other species.

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Conclusion