Abstract
Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBN) exhibit selective fluorescence quenching behavior with heavy metal ions; in addition, they possess characteristic oxidant properties both for liquid–liquid and liquid–solid interface catalysis. Here, we propose to study the detection and efficient removal of toxic arsenic(III) species by materializing these dual functions of PBN. A sophisticated PBN-sensitized fluorometric switching system for dosage-dependent detection of As3+ along with PBN-integrated SiO2 platforms as a column adsorbent for biphasic oxidation and elimination of As3+ have been developed. Colloidal PBN were obtained by a facile two-step process involving chemical reduction in the presence of 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyl trimethoxysilane (EETMSi) and cyclohexanone as reducing agents, while heterogeneous systems were formulated via EETMSi, which triggered in situ growth of PBN inside the three-dimensional framework of silica gel and silica nanoparticles (SiO2). PBN-induced quenching of the emission signal was recorded with an As3+ concentration (0.05–1.6 ppm)-dependent fluorometric titration system, owing to the potential excitation window of PBN (at 480–500 nm), which ultimately restricts the radiative energy transfer. The detection limit for this arrangement is estimated around 0.025 ppm. Furthermore, the mesoporous and macroporous PBN-integrated SiO2 arrangements might act as stationary phase in chromatographic studies to significantly remove As3+. Besides physisorption, significant electron exchange between Fe3+/Fe2+ lattice points and As3+ ions enable complete conversion to less toxic As5+ ions with the repeated influx of mobile phase. PBN-integrated SiO2 matrices were successfully restored after segregating the target ions. This study indicates that PBN and PBN-integrated SiO2 platforms may enable straightforward and low-cost removal of arsenic from contaminated water.
Highlights
Large numbers of people in Bangladesh and India are exposed to arsenic contamination in potable water
We further examined the use of another organotrialkoxysilane, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane (EETMSi), in the presence of cyclohexanone for the controlled synthesis of Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBN) as a light quenching material
Organotrialkoxysilane with an amine functional group, APTMS, in the presence of cyclohexanone was previously used for the controlled conversion of a single precursor, K3 [Fe(CN)6, into Prussian blue nanoparticles under ambient conditions [20]
Summary
Large numbers of people in Bangladesh and India are exposed to arsenic contamination in potable water. Metallurgical, agricultural, and industrial processes result in the discharge of arsenic into soil and water [1,2]. Long-term exposure to arsenic, even at low concentrations, can lead to oncological, immunological, neurological, and endocrine effects [3]. The World Health Organization recently set an arsenic limit of 10 μg/L for drinking water (Holm, 2002) [4]. Natural water predominantly contains the inorganic species arsenate [HAsO4 2 − , As(V)] and arsenite [AsO2 − , As(III)]. Inorganic As(III) was noted to be more toxic (10 times), mobile, and water-soluble (4–10 times) than As(V) [5]
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