Development of a mercury detection kit based on melamine-functionalized gold nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Mercury (Hg2+) is a toxic heavy metal pollutant.
• Accurate and rapid detection methods are crucial for environmental monitoring.
• Existing methods can be complex or time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fast, simple, and sensitive mercury detection kit.
• To utilize melamine-functionalized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for mercury detection.
• To enable visual, on-site determination of mercury ion concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) via citrate reduction.
• Functionalization of GNPs with melamine.
• Colorimetric detection of Hg(2+) based on GNP aggregation and color change.
• Visual assessment using a colorimetric card.

Main Results:

• The kit detected mercury ions through visible color changes (claret-red to lilac, purple, plum).
• High sensitivity was achieved with a detection limit of 0.01 mg L(-1).
• The method demonstrated high specificity, with no significant interference from other metal ions.

Conclusions:

• The developed kit provides a rapid (within 10 min) and convenient method for mercury detection.
• The technique is suitable for practical on-site environmental monitoring.
• Melamine-functionalized GNPs offer a promising platform for heavy metal sensing.