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Detection of heavy metal ions using a water‐soluble conjugated polymer based on thiophene and meso ‐2,3‐dimercaptosuccinic acid
Author(s) -
Laurenti Marco,
García Blanco Francisco,
LopezCabarcos Enrique,
RubioRetama Jorge
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.4369
Subject(s) - conjugated system , metal ions in aqueous solution , polymer , polythiophene , chelation , metal , fluorescence , thiophene , chemistry , dimercaptosuccinic acid , mercury (programming language) , inorganic chemistry , polymer chemistry , conductive polymer , organic chemistry , medicine , programming language , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , kidney , endocrinology
This work reports the synthesis of a new water‐soluble conjugated polymer, which interacts specifically with heavy metal ions such as lead and mercury. In order to produce such a material, the fluorescent properties of polythiophene, which constitutes the polymer backbone, were combined with the chelating capacity of meso ‐2,3‐dimercaptosuccinic acid, which forms the side‐chain of the conjugated polymer. Thus, the new polymer acts as chemical complexing agent, the fluorescence of which is quenched in the presence of heavy metal ions. A possible explanation of the mechanism of such a variation is also discussed. The system presented is envisaged to be used as a sensor for heavy metal ions that appear as pollutants in the environment .