Determination of Chromium(VI), Chromium(III), Arsenic(V), Aluminum(III), Iron(II), and Manganese(II) by Colorimetry and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Using Ferulic Acid Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract

Plasmonic nanoparticles having localized surface plasmon resonance in the visible and infrared region are potential candidates for the fabrication of simple, rapid, selective and specific metal ion detection systems based on colorimetry and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The study describes simple approaches for selective colorimetric and surface-enhanced Raman scattering determination of aluminum(III), chromium (VI), chromiun(III), manganese (II), iron(II) and arsenic (V) ions in aqueous medium using ferulic acid functionalized silver nanoparticles (F-AgNPs) synthesized by chemical reduction and microwave assisted method. The analysis of photographs reveals that ferulic acid functionalized silver nanoparticles synthesized by chemical reduction (C-F-AgNPs) sensitively detect Al(III) ions in aqueous media while nanoparticles synthesized by microwave reduction method can be used to determine As(V), Mn(II) and Fe(II) ions. In addition, C-F-AgNPs also enhance the Raman spectral profile of the water samples spiked by Cr(III) ions giving a peculiar vibration spectral feature that assists in the detection of Cr(III) ion in aqueous medium. Moreover, ferulic acid functionalized silver nanoparticles synthesized by the microwave assisted method (M-F-AgNPs) increase the intensity of Raman bands in the spectral profile of the water samples spiked with Cr(VI) and Mn(II) ions. The specific and selective interactions of F-AgNPs with the Cr(VI), Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Al(III) and As(V) leading to the aggregation of the dispersed silver nanoparticles enable their determination in aqueous media . The results of the present study shows the potential of F-AgNPs based sensor probes toward conceptualizing and fabricating simple, rapid and cost effective detection tools onsite determination of metal ions in aqueous media.

Keywords:

• Metal ions
• ferulic acid functionalized silver nanoparticles
• colorimetric detection
• surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to UGC, New Delhi, for providing financial assistance to create the confocal Raman microspectroscopy facility under the DST-FIST program to the Department of Physics, University of Allahabad, Allahabad. Ms. Aarti Jaiswal is also thankful to UGC, New Delhi, for the financial assistance in the form of fellowship.