Recent Advances in Colorimetric Detection of Arsenic Using Metal-Based Nanoparticles

Abstract

Nowadays, arsenic (III) contamination of drinking water is a global issue. Laboratory and instrument-based techniques are typically used to detect arsenic in water, with an accuracy of 1 ppb. However, such detection methods require a laboratory-based environment, skilled labor, and additional costs for setup. As a result, several metal-based nanoparticles have been studied to prepare a cost-effective and straightforward detector for arsenic (III) ions. Among the developed strategies, colorimetric detection is one of the simplest methods to detect arsenic (III) in water. Several portable digital detection technologies make nanoparticle-based colorimetric detectors useful for on-site arsenic detection. The present review showcases several metal-based nanoparticles that can detect arsenic (III) colorimetrically at a concentration of ~0.12 ppb or lower in water. A literature survey suggests that biomolecule-based metal nanoparticles could serve as low-cost, facile, susceptible, and eco-friendly alternatives for detecting arsenic (III). This review also describes future directions, perspectives and challenges in developing this alternative technology, which will help us reach a new milestone in designing an effective arsenic detector for commercial use.

Review of analytical techniques for arsenic detection and determination in drinking water

“…Although the Gutzeit method based technique is economical, it produces toxic arsine gas as by-products. 16 A recent development of the Gutzeit's method is the arsenic field-testing kits. However, the kits failed in a high fraction (up to 68%) when groundwater samples were analysed.…”

“…Considerable efforts are still needed to develop electrode materials and analytical procedures for a reliable detection and determination of arsenic with sub-ppb levels in the presence of endogenous toxic metals and organics in water matrices. 16 Different nanoparticles and nanomaterials have been employed for electrode modification and to enhance the efficiency and improve detection limits. Table 7 lists different electrode and modifier materials, electroanalytical techniques and LOD values from the review of recent arsenic research publications.…”

A blue arsenomolybdic acid-crystal violet ion-associate pair paving the way for the field detection of arsenic in groundwater

“…6 In general, for obvious reasons colorimetry is the method of choice for the eld detection of a species and with several visual kits reported in the literature and also available commercially, arsenic is no exception. 1,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Most of these kits are essentially based on the Gutzeit method developed more than a century ago. 15 The method employs (a) the conversion of arsenic in water to arsenic (AsH 3 ) gas with a reducing agent and (b) subsequently its reaction with mercury bromide (HgBr 2 ) to produce arsenic mercury bromide (As(HgBr) 3 ).…”

Determination of Arsenic Content in Water Using a Silver Coordination Polymer

“…There is therefore an urgent need for improved arsenic field test kits that do away with the use of mercury salts, and a significant amount of recent work has sought to address this challenge. Alternate sensing agents that have been explored include other metals such as gold , and molybdenum, , functionalized metal nanoparticles, as well as metal-free systems. , Some of these methods display excellent sensitivities at low concentrations and in some cases can distinguish between dissolved As­(III) and As­(V) species; however, none of these new approaches have yet reached the level of practicality necessary to supplant the mercury-based method on a large scale.…”