A highly selective molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor for ultra-trace beryllium detection

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Beryllium (Be2+) is a toxic heavy metal requiring sensitive detection methods.
• Existing methods for Be2+ detection can be complex or lack sensitivity.
• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer high selectivity for target analyte recognition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly sensitive and selective electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for ultratrace Be2+ determination.
• To utilize a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for selective recognition of Be2+.
• To enable indirect determination of Be2+ concentrations in real-world samples.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a MIP using a Be2+-4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol (PAR) complex as the template.
• Elution of the template complex to create recognition cavities within the MIP.
• Utilizing the MIP cavities for selective binding and signal generation via ECL.
• Measuring ECL intensity to quantify Be2+ concentrations indirectly.

Main Results:

• The ECL sensor demonstrated a linear response to Be2+ concentrations in the range of 7×10⁻¹¹ to 8.0×10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹.
• An ultra-low limit of detection (LOD) of 2.35×10⁻¹¹ mol L⁻¹ was achieved for Be2+.
• The developed sensor was successfully applied to detect Be2+ in real water samples, showing good applicability.

Conclusions:

• The proposed MIP-based ECL sensor provides a highly sensitive and selective platform for ultratrace Be2+ detection.
• This method offers a promising approach for environmental monitoring and analysis of toxic beryllium.
• The sensor's ability to detect Be2+ in real water samples highlights its practical utility.