title: A highly selective colorimetric aqueous sensor for mercury.
abstract: A new colorimetric mercury sensor is reported based on binding to terpyridine derivatives. It is able to selectively detect Hg II ions over a number of environmentally relevant ions including Ca II, Pb II, Zn II, Cd II, Ni II, Cu II, and others. The response time upon exposure to Hg II is instantaneous. By the "naked eye," the detection limit of Hg II is 2 ppm (25 microM) in solution. With a spectrometer, this detection limit is increased down to 2 ppb (25 nM), which is the current EPA standard for drinking water. The significant problem of mercury poisoning requires new methods of detection that are sensitive and selective. Here we report a new simple system that takes advantage of the unique optical properties generated by terpyiridine-Hg complexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Institution, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shunmugam
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Cartney E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Khaled A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Aamer
authors.forename: Gregory N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Tew
mesh_terms: D003124:Colorimetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; D008628:Mercury