A colorimetric chemosensor for quantification of exchangeable Cu2+ in soil. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fanna, Daniel J.; Lima, Luís M.P.; Wei, Gang; Li, Feng; Reynolds, Jason K.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 238(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Soil -- Colorimetric chemosensor -- Exchangeable copper; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124664
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Chemosensors have already demonstrated potential for the detection and imaging of metal ions in solutions and biological systems, however, their applications to soil analysis are limited. This study explores the potential of utilizing a chemosensor for the detection of exchangeable Cu 2+ in soils via qualitative (solution visual color change) and quantitative (UV–Vis spectrophotometry) approaches. Montmorillonite and kaolin clays were doped with Cu(NO3 )2 solutions from 2.5 to 50 mM, and contaminated soil samples were collected from a historic copper mine. The exchangeable Cu 2+ was extracted using a standard CaCl2 cation exchange approach, and the Cu 2+ concentration in the resulting solutions determined by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, using a chemosensor, and compared to traditional ICP-MS analysis. Analytical results showed that the chemosensor provided a visual response in contaminated soils at concentrations of 25 μM and quantitative detection to concentrations of 1 μM using UV–Vis spectrophotometry. This work demonstrates the first reported chemosensor for exchangeable Cu 2+ with application to soil systems. Graphical abstract: For Table of Contents Only. Image 1 Highlights: A novel method for the detection of exchangeable Cu 2+ on soils has been developed. Exchangeable Cu 2+ determination using chemosensor is as accurate as ICP-MS. The chemosensor method allows for portable detection of Cu 2+ on soils.