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Fluorescent Probes for Monitoring Toxic Elements from the Nuclear Industry: A Review
Clovis Poulin-Ponnelle1, Denis Boudreau1, Dominic Larivière1
1Radioecology Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Laval University, 1045 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 27, 2025
Summary
New fluorescent probes offer sensitive detection of toxic elements like uranium and cesium, crucial for environmental monitoring in nuclear power applications. These advanced tools achieve high sensitivity for safeguarding ecosystems and human health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Nuclear Engineering
Background:
- Nuclear power is expanding to combat carbon emissions, necessitating robust environmental monitoring for radioactive and toxic elements.
- Effective detection tools are vital for managing risks associated with nuclear industry byproducts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in fluorescent probes for detecting key nuclear industry elements.
- To highlight sensor platforms offering high sensitivity and selectivity for environmental analysis.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on fluorescent probes for detecting uranium, cesium, strontium, technetium, zirconium, and beryllium.
- Analysis of various sensor platforms including organic ligands, DNAzymes, metal-organic frameworks, and quantum dots.
Main Results:
- Recent fluorescent probe designs achieve detection limits in the nanomolar to picomolar range.
- Diverse sensor platforms demonstrate high sensitivity, selectivity, and suitability for environmental samples.
Conclusions:
- Fluorescent probes represent a significant advancement in monitoring toxic elements from nuclear activities.
- These sensitive detection methods open new avenues for environmental and biological applications.
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