Open AccessStrip‐based nano‐silver biocomposite construct for rapid screening of aqueous mercury
Author(s) -
Dugyala Raju,
Zahoor Gul Mir,
Kumar Sriramoju Manoj,
Rao Beedu Sashidhar
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2018.5314
Subject(s) - aqueous solution , mercury (programming language) , silver nanoparticle , biopolymer , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , nitrocellulose , scanning electron microscope , metal ions in aqueous solution , zeta potential , biocomposite , nanoparticle , membrane , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , metal , chromatography , nanotechnology , composite number , polymer , biochemistry , organic chemistry , computer science , composite material , programming language
A simple, rapid and a cost‐effective colorimetric method for detection of Hg 2+ in an aqueous system using silver nanoparticle (AgNP) has been developed in the present study. AgNPs were synthesised using gum kondagogu (GK), a natural biopolymer that acts as both reducing and stabilising agent. The stability of GK‐AgNPs composites was determined by zeta potential and was observed to be −30.43 mV. The yellow colour spot on the nitrocellulose membrane turned colourless at Hg 2+ concentration of 20 ppm in aqueous solution, which can be observed visually. By using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, it was observed that as the concentration of Hg 2+ increases the Ag concentration decreased. Further, scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy were used to confirm the morphological changes on membrane before and after treating with Hg 2 + . The interference of other metal ions was also studied to validate Hg 2+ specificity. This method was successfully employed to screen Hg 2+ in industrial effluents. In summary, this study entails the development of a nitrocellulose membrane based mercury sensor that has practical applicability for on‐site screening of Hg 2+ contamination in the aqueous system.