Fast, selective, and sensitive detection of 2,4-dichlorophenol by an imprinted polymer functionalized core-offset...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Traditional water pollution monitoring relies on time-consuming laboratory analysis of collected samples.
• Developing rapid, in-situ detection methods is crucial for effective environmental management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fast and selective sensor for detecting the water pollutant 2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP).
• To integrate molecular imprinting polymer nanoparticles (MIP-NPs) with a fiber optic interferometer for enhanced sensing capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and characterization of molecular imprinting polymer nanoparticles (MIP-NPs).
• Integration of MIP-NPs with a novel fiber optic interferometer.
• Testing the sensor's performance for 2,4-DCP detection, including sensitivity, selectivity, and operating range.

Main Results:

• The developed sensor demonstrated fast and selective detection of 2,4-DCP.
• Achieved high sensitivity (17.1 nm/µM) and a wide operating range (0.1-100 µM).
• Showcased repeatable performance and potential for nanomolar concentration detection.

Conclusions:

• The integrated MIP-NPs and fiber optic interferometer sensor offers a promising solution for real-time water quality monitoring.
• This technology enables the development of compact, stable, precise, and sensitive biosensors for online and remote chemical sensing applications.