Design of two-dimensional biomimetic uranyl optrode and its application to the analysis of natural waters.
A two-dimensional biomimetic optrode for the detection and quantification of uranium in natural waters was fabricated. The sensing element was designed by the inclusion of uranyl ion imprinted polymer particles into polymethyl methacrylate followed by casting a thin film on a glass slide without any plasticizer. The ion imprinted polymer material was prepared via covalent immobilization of the newly synthesised ligand 4-vinyl phenylazo-2-naphthol by thermal polymerization. Operational parameters such as pH, response time and the amount of sensing material were optimized. The response characteristics of the imprinted and the corresponding non-imprinted polymer inclusion optrodes of uranium were compared under optimum conditions. The imprinted polymer inclusion optrode responds linearly to uranium in the concentration range 0-1.0 microg mL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.18 microg mL(-1), which is much better than the solution studies using 4-vinyl phenylazo-2-naphthol (1.5 microg mL(-1)). Triplicate determinations of 100 microg of uranium(VI) present in 250 mL of solution gave a mean absorbance of 0.018 with a relative standard deviation of 8.33%. The superior sensitivity of imprinted polymer inclusion optrode is exemplified by lower detection limits and broader dynamic range over non-imprinted polymer inclusion optrode. The developed imprinted polymer inclusion optrode was found to give stable and precise response for 3 months and can be used without any loss in sensitivity. The applicability for analysing ground, lake and tap-water samples collected in the vicinity of uranium deposits was successfully demonstrated.
James
D
D
Inorganic and Polymer Materials, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR), Trivandrum 695019, India.
Gladis
J Mary
JM
Pandey
A K
AK
Naidu
G R K
GR
Prasada Rao
T
T
D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D054802:Molecular Imprinting / Q000379:methods; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis
D014873:Water Pollutants; D014501:Uranium; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate