title: Femtomolar detection of mercuric ions using polypyrrole, pectin and graphene nanocomposites modified electrode.
abstract: Several nanomaterials and techniques for the detection of mercuric ions (Hg(2+)) have been developed in the past decade. However, simple, low-cost and rapid sensor for the detection of heavy metal ions yet remains an important task. Herein, we present a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for the femtomolar detection of Hg(2+) based on polypyrrole, pectin, and graphene (PPy/Pct/GR) which was prepared by one step electrochemical potentiodyanamic method. The effect of concentration of pectin, polypyrrole and graphene were studied for the detection of Hg(2+). The influence of experimental parameters including effect of pH, accumulation time and accumulation potential were also studied. Different pulse anodic stripping voltammetry was chosen to detect Hg(2+) at PPy/Pct/GR/GCE modified electrode. The fabricated sensor achieved an excellent performance towards Hg(2+) detection such as higher sensitivity of 28.64μAμM(-1) and very low detection limit (LOD) of 4 fM at the signal to noise ratio of 3. The LOD of our sensor offered nearly 6 orders of magnitude lower than that of recommended concentration of Hg(2+) in drinking water by United States Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization. Compared to all previously reported electrochemical sensors towards Hg(2+) detection, our newly fabricated sensor attained a very LOD in the detection of Hg(2+). The practicality of our proposed sensor for the detection of Hg(2+) was successfully demonstrated in untreated tap water.
authors: SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Potheri, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu 630 003, India.
authors: Abraham Daniel
authors: AD
authors: Arulraj
authors: Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, No. 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao East Rd., National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Rajkumar
authors: R
authors: Devasenathipathy
authors: Electroanalysis and Bioelectrochemistry Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: smchen78@ms15.hinet.net.
authors: Shen-Ming
authors: SM
authors: Chen
authors: Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625 021, India. Electronic address: sivarunjan@gmail.com.
authors: Vairathevar Sivasamy
authors: VS
authors: Vasantha
authors: Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, No. 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao East Rd., National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: sfwang@ntut.edu.tw.
authors: Sea-Fue
authors: SF
authors: Wang
keywords: Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry; Femtomolar; Mercury; Polypyrrole-pectin-graphene