Selective and simultaneous detection of Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Hg2+ and Sr2+ using surfactant modified electrochemical sensors

Efficient biosorption of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) by Aspergillus brasiliensis in industrial wastewater coupled with electrochemical monitoring via sensor enhanced with modified silver nanoparticles

This work investigates the use of Aspergillus brasiliensis, this particular species of Aspergillus, as a biosorbent for the first time. It is employed to biosorption Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) and combines the biosorption experiments with electrochemical measurements for in situ analysis. For the experiments, a batch system was employed with the dead biomass. In order to determine the biosorption capacity, the impact of several operational parameters was examined, including pH, temperature, agitation speed, contact time, and initial metal concentration, and the optimum values were 5, 30 °C, 150 rpm, 2 h, and 150 ppm, respectively. Using 0.2 g biomass in 100 mL solution, the maximal uptake of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) at ideal conditions was determined to be 33.67, 24.51, and 36.76, respectively. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model was studied for the biosorption process. An electrochemical sensor using nanomaterials is designed and constructed to monitor the concentration of these metals. The silver nanoparticles functionalized with thiosemicarbazide and 6-mercaptohexanoic acid (mercaptohexanoylhydrazinecarbothioamide-coated silver nanoparticles, MHHC-AgNPs) linked to the carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were utilized for glassy carbon electrode modification (MHHC-AgNPs/MWCNTs/GCE). The concentration range of Zn(II) is 0.7-173 µg/L, Cd(II) is 1.18-293 µg/L, and Pb(II) is 2.17-540 µg/L. The detection limits for Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) are 0.036 µg/L, 0.15 µg/L, and 0.16 µg/L, respectively. Under optimized conditions, these results were obtained using the differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry method (DPASV). The successful detection of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) was achieved by effectively preventing interference from other common ions. It was effectively employed for measuring ions in industrial wastewater, and the results obtained aligned with those acquired from an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Thus, Aspergillus brasiliensis species, along with this electrochemical sensor, can be used to remediate and monitor environmental pollution, Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II), successfully.

Hydrogen-bond organic-framework-based electrochemical sensor for highly sensitive determination of trace cadmium ions in environmental and e-cigarette samples

BACKGROUND

The heavy metal ion Cd2+ is acutely toxic, and excessive concentrations can have adverse effects on human production and life, and even lead to significant public health risks and environmental impacts. There are several mature non-electrochemical methods for heavy metal detection, but these methods are characterized by high cost, which makes it difficult to be applied to the field for timely detection. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a new electrochemical sensor that is environmentally friendly and capable of detecting Cd2+ in the environment quickly, easily and sensitively.

RESULTS

In this study, hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reaction. The prepared materials consisted of only C, N and O and had a thin lamellar structure. The HOFs were integrated into a novel electrochemical sensor to achieve accurate detection of Cd2+ ions in real aqueous environments by square wave anodic dissolution voltammetry. The sensor has a wide linear range and a detection limit as low as 0.13 μg/L. Several real water samples, such as tap water, lake water, and e-cigarette digest, were analyzed to simulate the working environment of the sensor, and the results showed that the recoveries of Cd2+ ranged from 95.75 % to 101.2 %.

SIGNIFICANCE

We pioneered the detection of heavy metal ions Cd2+ in e-cigarette digestate samples with the innovative use of HOFs as the sensor material, which demonstrated the potential application in electrochemical sensing with extremely low background current value and high sensitivity, providing new ideas for environmental monitoring and public health control.

Recent advances and trends in innovative biosensor-based devices for heavy metal ion detection in food

Low-cost, reliable, and efficient biosensors are crucial in detecting residual heavy metal ions (HMIs) in food products. At present, based on distance-induced localized surface plasmon resonance of noble metal nanoparticles, enzyme-mimetic reaction of nanozymes, and chelation reaction of metal chelators, the constructed optical sensors have attracted wide attention in HMIs detection. Besides, based on the enrichment and signal amplification strategy of nanomaterials on HMIs and the construction of electrochemical aptamer sensing platforms, the developed electrochemical biosensors have overcome the plague of low sensitivity, poor selectivity, and the inability of multiplexed detection in the optical strategy. Moreover, along with an in-depth discussion of these different types of biosensors, a detailed overview of the design and application of innovative devices based on these sensing principles was provided, including microfluidic systems, hydrogel-based platforms, and test strip technologies. Finally, the challenges that hinder commercial application have also been mentioned. Overall, this review aims to establish a theoretical foundation for developing accurate and reliable sensing technologies and devices for HMIs, thereby promoting the widespread application of biosensors in the detection of HMIs in food.

Crown ether decorated silicon photonics for safeguarding against lead poisoning

Lead (Pb2+) toxification is a concerning, unaddressed global public health crisis that leads to 1 million deaths annually. Yet, public policies to address this issue have fallen short. This work harnesses the unique abilities of crown ethers, which selectively bind to specific ions. This study demonstrates the synergistic integration of highly-scalable silicon photonics, with crown ether amine conjugation via Fischer esterification in an environmentally-friendly fashion. This realizes an integrated photonic platform that enables the in-operando, highly-selective and quantitative detection of various ions. The development dispels the existing notion that Fischer esterification is restricted to organic compounds, facilitating the subsequent amine conjugation for various crown ethers. The presented platform is specifically engineered for selective Pb2+ detection, demonstrating a large dynamic detection range, and applicability to field samples. The compatibility of this platform with cost-effective manufacturing indicates the potential for pervasive implementation of the integrated photonic sensor technology to safeguard against societal Pb2+ poisoning.

An electroactive metal-organic framework-based novel on-off ratiometric electrochemical platform for effective detection of lead ions

Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials exhibit unique advantages in adsorption, pre-enrichment and selective recognition of heavy metal ions due to their porous nature, tunable structure and ease of functionalization. However, due to the poor conductivity and electrochemical activity of most MOFs, their application in electrochemical sensing is limited. In this paper, an electroactive hybrid material rGO/UiO-bpy composed of UiO-bpy and electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared and has been successfully used in the electrochemical determination of lead ions (Pb²⁺). Interestingly, a reverse response relationship between the electrochemical signal of UiO-bpy and the concentration of Pb²⁺ was discovered in the experiment, which can be used to develop a novel on-off ratiometric sensing strategy for Pb²⁺ detection. To our knowledge, this is the first time that UiO-bpy has been used as both an improved electrode material for heavy metal ion detection and an internal reference probe for ratiometric analysis. This study is of great significance to expand the electrochemical application of UiO-bpy and develop innovative electrochemical ratiometric sensing strategies for Pb²⁺ determination.

N. NK, Budagumpi S, Kumar Bose S, P. S, Palakollu VN. Tuning the Surface Functionality of Fe3O4 for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Heavy Metal Ions

The functionalization of materials for ultrasensitive detection of heavy metal ions (HMIs) in the environment is crucial. Herewith, we have functionalized inexpensive and environmentally friendly Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with D-valine (Fe₃O₄-D-Val) by a simple co-precipitation synthetic approach characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. The Fe₃O₄-D-Val sensor was used for the ultrasensitive detection of Cd⁺², Pb⁺², and Cu⁺² in water samples. This sensor shows a very low detection limit of 11.29, 4.59, and 20.07 nM for Cd⁺², Pb⁺², and Cu⁺², respectively. The detection limits are much lower than the values suggested by the world health Organization. The real water samples were also analyzed using the developed sensor.

A sensitive and rapid determination of zinc ion (Zn2+) using electrochemical sensor based on f-MWCNTs/CS/PB/AuE in drinking water

An electrochemical method for detecting the presence of zinc (Zn²⁺) ions in drinking water was developed using functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) and chitosan (CS). Numerous cylinder-shaped graphene molecules make up f-MWCNTs, which have a high mechanical and electrical conductivity. CS benefits from nanomaterials include biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity, which are excellent in capacity absorption of metal ions. Dangerous levels of metal ions such as zinc are currently present in drinking water as a result of human and natural activity. Zinc toxicity is associated with a variety of disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, and cancer. This study incorporated f-MWCNTs and CS with Prussian blue (PB) immobilised on a gold electrode (AuE). Several parameters, including as buffers, pH, scan rate, redox indicator, accumulation time, and volume, were optimised using the cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. According to the CV method, the optimal parameters were phosphate buffered saline (0.1 M, pH 2), 5 mM Prussian blue, 200 mVs^-1 scan rate, and 5 s accumulation time. Under ideal circumstances, the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) method was used to determine the Zn²⁺ ions concentration range of 0.2-7.0 ppm. The limit of detection (LOD) was 2.60 × 10^-7 mol L^-1 with a correlation coefficient of R² = 0.9777. The recovery rate of the developed sensor (f-MWCNTs/CS/PB/AuE) ranged from 95.78 to 98.96%. The developed sensor showed a variety of advantages for detecting Zn²⁺ in drinking water, including a quick setup process, quick detection, high sensitivity, and mobility. This study developed the essential sensor for monitoring Zn²⁺ levels in drinking water in the future.

Valorization of agro-industrial biowaste to green nanomaterials for wastewater treatment: Approaching green chemistry and circular economy principles

Water pollution is one of the most critical issues worldwide and is a priority in all scientific agendas. Green nanotechnology presents a plethora of promising avenues for wastewater treatment. This review discusses the current trends in the valorization of zero-cost, biodegradable, and readily available agro-industrial biowaste to produce green bio-nanocatalysts and bio-nanosorbents for wastewater treatment. The promising roles of green bio-nanocatalysts and bio-nanosorbents in removing organic and inorganic water contaminants are discussed. The potent antimicrobial activity of bio-derived nanodisinfectants against water-borne pathogenic microbes is reviewed. The bioactive molecules involved in the chelation and tailoring of green synthesized nanomaterials are highlighted along with the mechanisms involved. Furthermore, this review emphasizes how the valorization of agro-industrial biowaste to green nanomaterials for wastewater treatment adheres to the fundamental principles of green chemistry, circular economy, nexus thinking, and zero-waste manufacturing. The potential economic, environmental, and health impacts of valorizing agro-industrial biowaste to green nanomaterials are highlighted. The challenges and future outlooks for the management of agro-industrial biowaste and safe application of green nanomaterials for wastewater treatment are summarized.

Simultaneous determination of cadmium(ii), lead(ii), copper(ii) and mercury(ii) using an electrode modified by N/S co-doped graphene

NSRG has superior sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, stability and practicality, exhibiting broad application prospects in the field of electrochemical sensing.

Two-dimensional BCN nanosheets self-assembled with hematite nanocrystals for sensitively detecting trace toxic Pb(II) ions in natural water

In the present work, hematite-boron-carbonitride (Fe₂O₃-BCN) nanosheets were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reaction and the following high temperature treatment. The morphology, structure and chemical composition of the as-prepared material were carefully characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Fe₂O₃-BCN nanosheets were used to modified on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for lead ions (Pb(II)) via differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). At the same time, the influence of the modification concentration, solution acidity, deposition potential and deposition time on response peak current of Pb(II) at the Fe₂O₃-BCN-based electrochemical sensor was well investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the electrochemical signal and concentration of Pb(II) show two-stage linear relationship in the range of 0.5 - 40 μg/L and 40 -140 μg/L, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.129 μg/L. The Fe₂O₃-BCN-based electrochemical sensor shows excellent selectivity and anti-interference ability in the anti-interference experiments and actual sample analysis experiments, revealing its broad application in environmental monitoring of Pb(II).

Cyclic voltammetry to study kinetics of blast furnace slag and cerium dioxide modified electrode

The use of a voltammetric sensor to measure hazardous elements has gotten a lot of coverage. The electrochemical sensor in this study was modified with cerium dioxide (CeO2) and blast furnace slag (BFS), which opens up new possibilities for improving the electrocatalytic properties of the fabricated sensor. In general chemical kinetics or mass transport can restrict the reactions involved in electrochemical detection. The prepared electrodes were tested against potassium ferricyanide, K3Fe(CN)6 solution by cyclic voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the chemical reactions involve during redox process. The electron transfer kinetics, chemical rate constant, and diffusion characteristics of reactions can all be extracted using this method. Further this sensor was applied in the detection of lead and copper ions in aqueous solution. The results show that the redox reaction is a one-electron transfer mechanism with high selectivity and sensitivity. The value of transfer coefficient (α) for the electrode reaction was calculated as 0.61. Also the calculated heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (Ks) of the modified electrode was 2.41.

Novel Aminosilane (APTES)-Grafted Polyaniline@Graphene Oxide (PANI-GO) Nanocomposite for Electrochemical Sensor

Lead is a potentially toxic element (PTE) that has several adverse medical effects in humans. Its presence in the environment became prominent due to anthropogenic activities. The current study explores the use of newly developed composite materials (organic-inorganic hybrid) based on PANI-GO-APTES for electrochemical detection of Pb²⁺ in aqueous solution. The composite material (PANI-GO-APTES) was synthesized by chemical method and was characterized with SEM, XPS, XEDS, XRD, TGA, FTIR, EIS and CV. The result of characterization indicates the successful synthesis of the intended material. The PANI-GO-APTES was successfully applied for electrochemical detection of Pb²⁺ using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry method. The limit of detection of Pb²⁺ was 0.0053 µM in the linear range of 0.01 µM to 0.4 µM. The current response produced during the electrochemical reduction of Pb²⁺ catalyzed by PANI-GO-APTES was also very repeatable, reproducible and rapid. The application of PANI-GO-APTES-modified GCE in real sample analysis was also established. Therefore, PANI-GO-APTES is presented as a potential Pb²⁺ sensor for environmental and human health safety.

Carbon nitride-doped melamine-silver adsorbents with peroxidase-like catalysis and visible-light photocatalysis: Colorimetric detection and detoxification removal of total mercury

Mesoporous melamine-silver (MA-Ag) nanocomposites doped with carbon nitride quantum dots (CN_QDs) were fabricated simply by the controlled supramolecular self-assembly. It was discovered that the resulting nanoflower-like CN_QDs@MA-Ag nanocomposites could exhibit the peroxidase-like catalysis, which could be specifically enhanced by Hg²⁺ by forming Ag@Hg alloys. A double catalysis-based colorimetric method was thereby developed for the fast detecting of Hg²⁺ and Hg⁰ in wastewater samples, with the levels down to 0.050 nM and 18.3 nM, respectively. Moreover, strong visible-light-driven photocatalysis of the nanocomposites was demonstrated for oxidizing Hg⁰ into Hg²⁺ through photocatalytic H₂O₂ production so as to realize the detoxification of Hg⁰ in the environmental wastewater. Besides, the fabricated mesoporous CN_QDs@MA-Ag nanocomposites with large specific surface areas might facilitate the high Hg adsorption through the powerful MA-Hg chelate interaction, showing the efficient adsorption and/or removal of total Hg. The catalysis-selective colorimetric analysis and photocatalysis-based detoxification removal of total mercury may promise for wide applications in the environmental monitoring and wastewater treatment of toxic heavy metals of mercury.

A double-potential ratiometric electrochemiluminescence platform based on g-C3N4 nanosheets (g-C3N4 NSs) and graphene quantum dots for Cu2+ detection

A new kind of convenient, low-cost double-potential ratiometric ECL sensing platform for the quantification of Cu²⁺ was developed with carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C₃N₄ NSs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as ECL luminophores. g-C₃N₄ NSs mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was immobilized on a glass carbon electrode (GCE) and produced strong cathodic ECL at a potential of -1.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), while GQDs in the solution gave anodic ECL at +2.5 V. MWCNTs were used here to amplify the ECL signal of g-C₃N₄ NSs. The addition of Cu²⁺ causes the cathodic ECL signal from g-C₃N₄ to decline, while the anodic ECL signal from GQDs remains unchanged. With the anodic ECL signal as an internal reference, a double-potential ratiometric ECL sensing platform for Cu²⁺ was established. The ratio of the cathodic signal intensity to anodic signal intensity showed a linear response to the Cu²⁺ concentration over a range from 5.0 × 10^-10 to 1.0 × 10^-6 mol L^-1 and the detection limit was 0.37 nmol L^-1 (3σ/S). Such a construction strategy alleviates the interference from the environment and therefore improves the detection accuracy of Cu²⁺. Compared with other methods for Cu²⁺ detection, this method is simpler and more sensitive.

Nanocomposites for Electrochemical Sensors and Their Applications on the Detection of Trace Metals in Environmental Water Samples

The elevated concentrations of various trace metals beyond existing guideline recommendations in water bodies have promoted research on the development of various electrochemical nanosensors for the trace metals' early detection. Inspired by the exciting physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials, advanced functional nanocomposites with improved sensitivity, sensitivity and stability, amongst other performance parameters, have been synthesized, characterized, and applied on the detection of various trace metals in water matrices. Nanocomposites have been perceived as a solution to address a critical challenge of distinct nanomaterials that are limited by agglomerations, structure stacking leading to aggregations, low conductivity, and limited porous structure for electrolyte access, amongst others. In the past few years, much effort has been dedicated to the development of various nanocomposites such as; electrochemical nanosensors for the detection of trace metals in water matrices. Herein, the recent progress on the development of nanocomposites classified according to their structure as carbon nanocomposites, metallic nanocomposites, and metal oxide/hydroxide nanocomposites is summarized, alongside their application as electrochemical nanosensors for trace metals detection in water matrices. Some perspectives on the development of smart electrochemical nanosensors are also introduced.

Simultaneous determination of heavy metals by an electrochemical method based on a nanocomposite consisting of fluorinated graphene and gold nanocage

Fluorinated graphene/gold nanocage (FGP/AuNC) nanocomposite was developed for simultaneous determination of heavy metals using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Under optimized conditions, with a buffer pH of 5.0, a deposition potential of - 1.25 V, and a deposition time of 140 s, the method can obtain the best results. The FGP/AuNC electrode exhibits low limits of detection (0.08, 0.09, 0.05, 0.19, 0.01 μg L-1), wide linear ranges (6-7000, 4-6000, 6-5000, 4-4000, 6-5000 μg L-1), and well-separated stripping peaks (at - 1.10, - 0.77, - 0.50, - 0.01, 0.31 V vs Ag/AgCl) towards Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+, respectively. Furthermore, the FGP/AuNC electrode is also used for simultaneous determination of Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+ in real samples (peanut, rape bolt, and tea). Highly consistent results are found between the electrochemical method and atomic fluorescence spectrometry/inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of heavy metal ions in agricultural food. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of simultaneous determination of heavy metal ions by electrochemical method. The FGP/AuNC (fluorinated graphene/gold nanocage) electrode is used to simultaneous determination of Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+ by square wave anode stripping voltammetry.

Tripeptide Derivative-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode: A Novel Electrochemical Sensor for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Cd2+ Ions

A N-[(Benzyloxy)carbonyl]-l-alanyl-l-prolyl-l-leucine-N-cyclohexylcyclohexanamine (Cbz-APL) tripeptide-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE)-based sensor was used for sensitive and selective recognition of cadmium ions in environmental water. Detailed cyclic voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies were performed to investigate the charge transfer and sensing activity of the developed electrochemical sensor. Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was employed to further investigate the sensitivity, selectivity, validity, and applicability of the developed sensor. A sharp electrochemical signal of oxidized Cd at -0.84 V versus Ag/AgCl provides evidence for the higher sensing ability of Cbz-APL/GCE than bare GCE at -0.79 V. Moreover, on Cbz-APL/GCE, extraordinary low detection limits of 4.34 fM and linearity range of 15 nM to 0.1 pM with coefficients of correlation higher than 0.99 for Cd2+ were achieved. Besides, the influence of inorganic and organic interferents on the targeted analyte signals was examined, and high selectivity of Cbz-APL/GCE for Cd2+ ions was observed. Lastly, the validity and applicability of the developed electrochemical sensor for the detection of Cd2+ ions were checked in real water samples, and 100% recovery was obtained.

Amino Acid-Fabricated Glassy Carbon Electrode for Efficient Simultaneous Sensing of Zinc(II), Cadmium(II), Copper(II), and Mercury(II) Ions

Herein, we present a greener approach to achieve an ultrasensitive, selective, and viable sensor engineered by amino acids as a recognition layer for simultaneous electrochemical sensing of toxic heavy metals (HMs). Electrochemical techniques like electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) were applied to demonstrate sensing capabilities of the designed analytical tool. The comparative results of different amino acids demonstrate alanine's superior performance with a well-resolved and enhanced current signal for target metal ions due to strong complexation of its functional moieties. The working conditions for alanine-modified GCE were optimized by investigating the effect of alanine concentration, different supporting electrolytes, pH values, accumulation potentials, and time. The limits of detection for Zn2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+ were found to be 8.92, 5.77, 3.01, and 5.89 pM, respectively. The alanine-modified electrode revealed absolute discrimination ability, stability, and ultrasensitivity toward metal ions even in the presence of multifold interfering species. Likewise, greener modifier-designed electrodes possessed remarkable electrocatalytic activity, cost affordability, reproducibility, and applicability for picomolar level detection of HM ions in real water sample matrixes. Theoretical calculations for the HM-amino acid interaction also support a significantly improved mediator role of the alanine modifier that is consistent with the experimental findings.