Abstract
One of the most pressing global concerns is how to provide a clean environment for future generations given the exacerbation of urban, agricultural, industrial, and economic activities due to the escalating size of the global population. A polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer peripherally modified with 4-N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine-1,8-naphthalmide as a chromophore was synthesized and utilized to capture hazardous heavy metal ions. This modified fluorescent dendrimer (FCD) was complexed with Group 12 metal ions (Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+) at a 2:1 (metal: FCD) ratio. Electronic absorption, fluorescence emission, Infra-red (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopies, conductivity, CHN elemental, thermogravimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses were used to characterize the resulting metal complexes. These assays revealed that the synthesized complexes were yellow-colored, thermally stable, nanoscale-sized, and composed of [M2FCD]·4Cl2. Considerable spectral shifts were observed in the emission and absorption spectra of the FCD molecule after binding the Zn2+ ions, which can be used to differentiate the Zn2+ complex from the other two complexes. This work provides basic data to facilitate the detection, quantification, and removal of environmentally hazardous heavy metal ions through complexation with a fluorescent dendrimer.
Highlights
It has become a great challenge worldwide to provide a clean environment and deal with hazardous chemicals and toxic pollutants, especially with respect to hazardous heavy metals
A fluorescent dendrimer was synthesized by modifying a PAMAM dendrimer with 4-N,N -dimethylethylenediamine-1,8-naphthalmide, and labeled as FCD
Three metal–FCD complexes were synthesized by reacting FCD with Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ ions at a molar ratio of 2:1 (FCD: metal ion)
Summary
It has become a great challenge worldwide to provide a clean environment and deal with hazardous chemicals and toxic pollutants, especially with respect to hazardous heavy metals. Developing methods for detecting, monitoring, quantifying, and eliminating metal ions in human tissues, pharmaceuticals, food, drinking water, and the environment is of the utmost importance for improving the health and safety of humans, and the planet in general. Spectrophotometry, chemical precipitation, electrochemical methods, and ion-exchange chromatography are some of the traditional methods used for such purposes and provide high sensitivity, serviceability, and selectivity. These traditional methods are costly and time-consuming and often require skilled professionals to operate complicated apparatus with high operating costs [11–17]
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