Open AccessAPPLICATION OF WATER BEADS AS A NOVEL AND SIMPLE SORBENT FOR SMARTPHONE-BASED COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF IRON IN WATER
Author(s) -
Cristina B. Adamo,
Ayandra Jungera,
Dosil Pereira de Jesus
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
química nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.214
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1678-7064
pISSN - 0100-4042
DOI - 10.21577/0100-4042.20170782
Subject(s) - tap water , sorbent , colorimetric analysis , detection limit , chromatography , chemistry , colorimetry , sodium polyacrylate , nuclear chemistry , adsorption , environmental science , environmental engineering , organic chemistry , raw material
This work proposes a novel approach for colorimetric assays using ubiquitous and inexpensive water beads (WBs) made of a superabsorbent polymer (sodium polyacrylate). The high-water absorption capacity by the WBs was exploited for the preconcentration of iron ions from samples of tap, well, and lake waters. Moreover, the WBs also worked as a substrate for colorimetric detection of iron by the classical reaction of formation of Fe(II)-phenanthroline complex. Digital images acquired with a smartphone were used to obtain the color intensity of the WBs containing the orange color complex. The WBs were able to uptake and preconcentrate iron ions, allowing colorimetric detection with good linearity (R2 = 0.9978) and limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.02 and 0.07 mg L-1, respectively. The proposed method provided recoveries ranging from 93 to 111% for a sample of well water spiked with 0.15 mg L-1 of iron.