Gold nanoparticles for mercury determination in environmental water and vegetable samples

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with 2-mercapto succinic acid (MSA) were successfully applied for the determination of mercury in various water samples up to nanolevels without any interference. Alumina-coated MSA-capped AuNPs easily remove mercury species present in various samples. The absorbance spectrum was obtained at 547 nm. Other parameters like effect of pH, reagent concentration, interferences were studied. This method is simple, sensitive and successfully applied for the determination of mercury species in various water, soil and plant residues collected from different industrial areas. Keywords Gold nanoparticles Á 2-Mercapto succinic acid Á Activated alumina Á Environmental samples

Fluorescent Gold Clusters as Logic Gates for the Detection of Different Metal Ions

“…The fluorescent responses showed that multivalent metal cations such as Fe 3+ and Cr 3+ might bind more strongly with Au NCs than monovalent metal cations. The results also showed the formation of an amalgam for Hg 2+ . EDTA was used as a chelating and competitive reagent, and the results showed that multivalent interaction was involved.…”

“…In this study, Au NCs facilitate the reduction of Hg 2+ via surface‐capped citrate. The amalgam formation also indicates citrate‐capped Au NCs . The QY of Au NCs is ~10 % ( n = 3).…”

“…The results show that the fluorescence of Fe 3+ and Cr 3+ can be recovered after adding EDTA. The fluorescence response of Au NCs with Hg 2+ (Figure ) could not be recovered because of the formation of an amalgam . It is known that the Au surface has strong affinity for Hg 2+ .…”

“…The fluorescence response of Au NCs with Hg 2+ (Figure 7) could not be recovered because of the formation of an amalgam. [15][16][17] It is known that the Au surface has strong affinity for Hg 2+ . Since Au NCs have citrate groups on the surface, Hg 2+ could be reduced by citrate on Au NCs, and Hg(0) could be generated and strongly bonded to the surface of Au NCs to form an amalgam structure.…”

“…The amalgam formation also indicates citrate-capped Au NCs. [15][16][17] The QY of Au NCs is~10 % (n = 3). The QYs of Au NC-Fe 3+ and Au NC-Hg 2+ are~5% (n = 3) and 2% (n = 3), respectively.…”