A highly facile and selective Chemo-Paper-Sensor (CPS) for detection of strontium

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.02.110

Chemosphere

Volume 152, June 2016, Pages 39-46

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.02.110 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
Paper-based colorimetric assay for detection of strontium ion was developed.
•
Chemo-Paper-Sensor (CPS) provides a fast and simple naked-eye detection for strontium.
•
CPS as a paper strip was cost-effectively fabricated.
•
CPS toward strontium ion provides a high performance on-site detection and monitoring.
•
CPS toward strontium was evaluated by using a portable device.

Abstract

Chemosensors have attracted increasing attention for their usefulness on-site detection and monitoring. In this study, we elucidated a novel, facile, and highly selective Chemo-Paper-Sensor (CPS) for detection and monitoring of strontium (Sr²⁺) ions, which means a potent colorimetric sensor based on a Chrysoidine G (CG)-coated paper strip. The CPS for highly selective colorimetric detection of strontium ion was handily analyzed to determine the red-green-blue (RGB) value using portable devices such as desktop digital scanner and mobile phone camera, quantitatively. Interestingly, an orange to dark orange color transition was observed when the aqueous and solid paper colorimetric sensor was introduced to Sr²⁺ ion, respectively. It was demonstrated that the value of the signal has a linear relationship with concentrations of the strontium in the 500 ppm to 100 ppb range with a detection limit of 200 ppb. We believe that a newly developed Chemo-Paper-Sensor will be useful in a wide range of sensing applications.

Introduction

Paper-based devices hold lots of potentials for point-of-care and on-site diagnosis methods (Yamada et al., 2015). Due to their distinctive portability, most of paper-based devices are applicable for detecting the specific target markers (Whitesides, 2006, Yetisen et al., 2013, Costa et al., 2014). Especially, the release of heavy-metal ions and by-products into the environment is a serious problem in the whole world because human contaminated by metal is associated with harmful health effects in central nervous system (Hossain and Brennan, 2011, Jomova and Valko, 2011). Also, heavy-metal ions are not biodegradable and are among the most toxic and cancer inducing elements. Therefore, effective, selective and accurate detection for heavy-metal ions are of great importance (Li et al., 2013, Carter et al., 2014, Mahato et al., 2014). In recent years, paper has been used as a platform sensor functionalized as a substrate to construct devices for detection of specific markers (Martinez et al., 2007, Yetisen et al., 2013). The primary advantage of paper-based platform is simple and provides a yes or no response to users directly. Paper-based platforms could enable quantitative analysis for potential applications like veterinary medicine, environmental monitoring, and food safety (Martinez et al., 2008, Martinez et al., 2009). Furthermore, paper-based systems are facile, simple, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid, robust, cost-effective, and applicable to a wide range of biological and environmental samples (Nie et al., 2010, Jeong et al., 2015).

Radionuclides of strontium (Sr²⁺), because of its greater yield in the nuclear fission process and longer half-lives, is among the most hazardous and dangerous radionuclides in the nuclear waste effluents (Khan, 2003). Strontium ion, for example, is the main fission products of spent fuels and they are found in all of the radioactively contaminated places. Among radioactive strontium nuclides, strontium a pure beta-particles emitter with maximum beta energy of 546 keV, has the longest radiological half-life (27.7 year) and it remains for many decades (Campbell et al., 1990). This radionuclide would be responsible to the major radioactive compound in the beta contaminated area (Habibi et al., 2015). Also, it is often present in detectable concentrations in soils, foods, water, and biological materials. Because of its similarity to calcium, strontium is found in the bones and teeth of our body. There is a strong irritant effect of oxides, hydroxides and carbonates of strontium on eyes and skin (Kaur et al., 2014, Kaur et al., 2015).

Detection of Sr²⁺ can be analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (Habibi et al., 2015). This is based on ionizing the sample with inductively coupled plasma and then using a mass spectrometer to separate and quantify those ions. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is a multi-element analytical technique based on bombarding a sample with neutrons, causing an element to form radioactive isotopes (Landsberger and Kapsimalis, 2013). And thermal ionization mass spectrometers (TIMS) or alternatively multi-collector-inductively-coupled-plasma-mass-spectrometers (MC-ICP-MS) are the common methods in order to determine the radiogenic ingrowths and variations of Sr²⁺ (Halicz et al., 2008). However, MC-ICP-MS methods were burdened with the problem of potential fractionation during ion chromatographic Sr²⁺ separation and the sensitivity for matrix effects during the ICP-MS measurements (Ohno and Hirata, 2007, Albarède et al., 2015). However, these techniques still were suffered from the use of expensive instruments and hazardous sample preparation and eventually, were required highly skilled operators (Qiao et al., 2014, Sun et al., 2014). Driven by need, a novel colorimetric assay has attracted significant attention and are a promising method for specific detection of strontium because of its high selectivity, low cost, rapid response, portability, and low labor requirement.

In this study, we elucidated a novel method for the detection of strontium (Sr²⁺) by using a Chrysoidine G-based Chemo-Paper-Sensor (CPS). The results of the digitalized information from RGB value by using portable devices such as desktop scanner and mobile phone camera were presented. A hybrid system of strontium-organic dye within a broad dynamic range was achieved without expensive instruments, providing chemosensor methods for designing of colorimetric strontium ion detection.

Section snippets

Chemicals and sampling

4-phenylazo-m-phynylenediamine (Chrysoidine G, CG) and Whatman cellulose chromatography paper were purchased from Sigma–Aldrich Chemicals (MO, USA). Strontium standard solutions were purchased from o2si smart solutions (SC, USA). Arsenic, mercury, cadmium, zinc, and copper standard solutions were purchased from CPI international Co., (CA, USA). All agents were of analytical grade and prepared using high pure water. The environmental sample from stream was collected from KAERI, Jeongeup,

Detection of Sr²⁺ ions

Fig. 1a shows the changes in color of the CG aqueous solutions upon the addition of different concentrations of Sr²⁺. A pipette drop (100 μL) of each Sr²⁺ aqueous standard solution was introduced on the CG aqueous chemosensor, a slightly orange-to-dark orange color transition occurs immediately (<5 s). To study the Sr²⁺ ion detection properties of complexation with a CG, it was investigated the UV–vis absorption behavior of these complexes in response to Sr²⁺ ions. Various Sr²⁺ concentrations

Conclusions

In conclusion, we have successfully demonstrated a Chrysoidine G (CG)-based Chemo-Paper-Sensor (CPS) for detection of strontium. By combining colorimetric probe and paper-based platform, we showed a high performance of CPS with a simplicity and selectivity. Paper-based strips were prepared by drop casting of CG aqueous solution followed by absorbed with cellulose paper which means a very simple and economical method. Furthermore, this CPS exhibited a color change from orange to dark-orange by

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Radiation Fusion Technology Program (2015M2A2A6A02045262(3)) from Nuclear Research R&D Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (MSIP), Republic of Korea.

References (27)

A. Habibi et al.
Rapid determination of actinides and 90 Sr in river water
Anal. Chim. Acta
(2015)
L. Halicz et al.
Strontium stable isotopes fractionate in the soil environments?
Earth. Planet. Sci. Lett.
(2008)
K. Jomova et al.
Advances in metal-induced oxidative stress and human disease
Toxicology
(2011)
S. Landsberger et al.
Comparison of neutron activation analysis techniques for the determination of uranium concentrations in geological and environmental materials
J. Environ. Radioact.
(2013)
F. Albarède et al.
Instrumental isotope fractionation in multiple-collector icp-ms
J. Anal. At. Spectrom.
(2015)
O. Campbell et al.
Recurrent pterygia: results of postoperative treatment with Sr-90 applicators
Radiology
(1990)
K.P. Carter et al.
Fluorescent sensors for measuring metal ions in living systems
Chem. Rev.
(2014)
M. Costa et al.
A low cost, safe, disposable, rapid and self-sustainable paper-based platform for diagnostic testing: lab-on-paper
Nanotechnology
(2014)
S.Z. Hossain et al.
β-Galactosidase-based colorimetric paper sensor for determination of heavy metals
Anal. Chem.
(2011)
S.-G. Jeong et al.
Toward instrument-free digital measurements: a three-dimensional microfluidic device fabricated in a single sheet of paper by double-sided printing and lamination
Lab. Chip
(2015)

A. Kaur et al.

Polyamine based ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for strontium metal ion in aqueous medium: application in tap water, river water, and in oral care

ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng.

(2015)

S. Kaur et al.

Development of chemosensor for Sr 2+ using organic nanoparticles: application of sensor in product analysis for oral care

Org. Biomol. Chem.

(2014)

S.A. Khan

Sorption of the long-lived radionuclides cesium-134, strontium-85 and cobalt-60 on bentonite

J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem.

(2003)

Cited by (19)

Microfluidic paper-based device coupled with 3D printed imaging box for colorimetric detection in resource-limited settings
2023, HardwareX
Rapid and effective methods for the detection of analytes such as water contaminants, food adulterants and biomolecules are essential for the protection of public health and environmental protection. Most of the currently established analytical techniques need sophisticated equipment, centralized testing facilities, costly operations, and trained personnel. Such limitations make them inaccessible to the general populace, particularly in regions with limited resources. The emergence of microfluidic devices offers a promising alternative to overcome several such constraints. This work describes a protocol for fabricating a low-cost, open-source paper-based microfluidic device using easily available tools and materials for colorimetric detection of analytes. The ease and simplicity of fabrication allow users to design customized devices. The device is coupled with an imaging box assembled from 3D printed parts to maintain uniform lighting conditions during analytical testing. The platform allows digital imaging using smartphones or cameras to instantaneously capture images of reaction zones on the device for quantitative analysis. The system is demonstrated for detecting hexavalent chromium, a toxic water contaminant. The image analysis is performed using open-source ImageJ for quantification of results. The approach demonstrated in this work can be readily adopted for a wide range of sensing applications.
Nanoparticle intervention for heavy metal detection: A review
2022, Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring and Management
Heavy metals are one of the major factors which have been degrading our environment at a tremendous rate which unfortunately exploits the natural resources. Major heavy metals found toxic to the environment in recent years are Pb²⁺, Cr³⁺, Hg²⁺, As³⁺, and Cu²⁺. Thus, many efforts have been made to quantify and detect heavy metals conventionally and analytically. However, advance technologies always remains in demand to detect heavy metal using user-friendly and sensitive way, for this the Nano based technology came into picture. These Nano work enhanced the efficiency of analytical devices and were found to be very sensitive, selective, with fast working potential. Nano based are sensors that can be easily incorporated into devices and helpful for on-the-spot detection or on-field detection with high linear range and low detection limit. This review highlights the important heavy metals their advanced, toxicity issues along with the conventional and advanced nanomaterials-based detection methods developed so far. Moreover the review describes in detail about optical system, electrochemical method, and their subtypes, along with the electrode developed using nanomaterials impregnation abridged for heavy metal analysis. Finally, the researchers highlights the benefits of using Nano-based strategies which gave the researcher’s a new idea of incorporating these technologies into devices that can be used anywhere and anytime.
A novel chemosensor for sensitive and facile detection of strontium ions based on ion-imprinted hydrogels modified with guanosine derivatives
2022, Journal of Hazardous Materials
Citation Excerpt :
Although this system can detect Sr2+ sensitively, the electrode manufacture tends to be costly and the modification remains challenging. Based on the color change of Chrysoidine G (CG) upon recognizing Sr2+, the CG-coated Chemo-Paper-Sensor (CPS) can convert the Sr2+ concentration signals into the digitalized information from the RGB value of the color (Kang et al., 2016). Such CPS enables facile detection of Sr2+, but the color variation induced by the complexation of CG with Sr2+ is not so obvious, resulting in low detection accuracy.
A novel chemosensor is developed for the sensitive and facile detection of trace strontium ions (Sr²⁺) based on the ion-imprinted hydrogels. With Sr²⁺ as the templates, the ion-imprinted hydrogels are synthesized by copolymerizing the ion-responsive units 5'-O-acryloyl-2',3'-O-isopropylidene guanosine (APG) and the thermo-responsive units N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). In the presence of Sr²⁺, APG units can self-assemble to form planar G-quartets via the complexation with Sr²⁺, which are introduced into the gel network during polymerization. Then Sr²⁺ templates can be removed by multiple repeated washing. When re-exposed to Sr²⁺, the relaxed G-quartets can recognize Sr²⁺, leading to the weakening of electrostatic repulsion between the four oxygen atoms in the G-quartets and inducing the shrinkage of the hydrogels. In this work, the Sr²⁺-imprinted chemosensors are designed as the grating systems for detecting trace Sr²⁺. Based on the array of hydrogel strings synthesized on a nano-scale, the smart grating systems thus constructed can convert and amplify the Sr²⁺ concentration signals to the easily-measurable optical signals. With the Sr²⁺-imprinted hydrogel gratings, trace Sr²⁺ (10^-11 M) in an aqueous solution can be detected sensitively. Moreover, the proposed Sr²⁺-imprinted chemosensors can be integrated with other smart systems for developing various detectors with high performance.
Turn on fluorescence strip based sensor for recognition of Sr<sup>2+</sup> and CN<sup>−</sup> via lowerrim substituted calix[4]arene and its computational investigation
2020, Spectrochimica Acta - Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy
Fluorescence sensor L designed around a calix[4]arene scaffold, bearing two fluorogenic aminoquinoline moities, has been synthesized. It is found to be selective and sensitive towards Sr²⁺ and CN⁻ over a wide range of cations and anions in a spectrofluorometric study in acetonitrile. The ion-binding property of L was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, ESI-MS, ¹H NMR, FT-IR investigation and PXRD study. The host L shows a minimum detection limit which is 1.36 nM for Sr²⁺ and 1.23 nM for CN⁻ having concentration range 5–120 nM and 5–115 nM respectively. The calculated binding constants for L:Sr²⁺ and L: CN⁻ are respectively 8.859 × 10⁸ M⁻¹ and 8.574 × 10⁸ M⁻¹. Our host L has been utilised in formation of a user-friendly, affordable, and disposable paper-based analytical device (PAD) for rapid chemical screening of Sr²⁺ and CN⁻ ion via single strip. Moreover, the optimization of probe L has also been done by the MOPAC-2016 software package using NM7 popular method resulting −21.71 kcals/mol heat of formation and also determined the HOMO-LUMO energy band gap for L, L:Sr²⁺ and L: CN⁻. Further, molecular docking score has been calculated using HEX software. The applicability of our probe in real samples containing Sr²⁺ and CN⁻ has also been checked by emission study with 94–99% recovery.
Advances in imaging-assisted sensing techniques for heavy metals in water: Trends, challenges, and opportunities
2020, TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry
Citation Excerpt :
In this application, color responses captured via a flatbed scanner, and their gray values analyzed by ImageJ at a LOD of 0.01 ppb [19]. A novel and highly sensitive paper strip coated with Chrysoidine G that detects Sr(II) ions by changing color and capturing that change on a smartphone camera and desktop scanner for the analysis of RGB values has a LOD of 200 ppb [20]. Similarly, the metallic reagent zincon fused within hollow ZnSiO3 nanospheres served as a hybrid ionophore in a paper-based assay in which the intensity of its blue color reduced with the addition of nickel(II) operated at a detection limit of 4.7 ppb and a linear dynamic range of 0.004–4.3 ppm [27].
Heavy metal pollution of water resources is of worldwide concern, stimulating the development of breakthroughs in detection and remedy technologies. In the digital age, imaging solutions have been applied to almost every sector of civil society, from health and manufacturing to diagnostics, defense, and personal security. The next generation of monitoring sensors and systems for water quality and pollutants is developing at a rapid pace. The present review discusses various aspects of imaging-assisted quantification of heavy metals in water, including transduction techniques (colorimetric and photoluminescence), sensor materials (organic linkers, metal nanoparticles, carbonaceous & semiconductor quantum dots, etc.), the roles of equipment and readout tools (color charts, image scanners, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc.), substrates (organic and inorganic), and sampling methods. To the best of our knowledge, no such efforts have been made previously to critically and comprehensively analyze various aspects on the new imaging-based technologies in the environmental sector.
Low-cost and environmentally sensitive fluorescent cellulose paper for naked-eye detection of Fe(III) in aqueous media
2020, Dyes and Pigments
Citation Excerpt :
Cellulose is the most abundant polysaccharide and include a number of hydroxyl groups, which can be used for easily functional group modification in order to improve the chemical and physical properties [30–32]. Due to these reasons, cellulose-based materials have attracted attention as one of the alternatives to the conventional heavy metal sensors [33–39]. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other paper on the use of cellulose and filter papers, as the scaffold for the colorimetric and fluorescent detection of Fe (III), there exist no paper on the use of Bodipy based compounds immobilization on cellulose.
The design of eco-friendly materials to detect heavy metals is today's demand to decrease pollutions in natural waters. This paper demonstrates low-cost and environmentally sensitive material for removal and detection of Fe(III) ions in polluted waters. For this, raw cellulose with powder form was firstly fabricated via immobilizing hexamethylene diisocyanate. Following the activation of cellulose, it was modified with a Bodipy for useful spectroscopic measurements to effectively detect and remove Fe(III) ion from aqueous medium. The Bodipy-based cellulose (Cell-BODIPY) exhibited exceptional performance for detecting Fe(III) ion under both longwave light and daylight. For a better visualization in practical applications, the same modification process was also carried out for filter paper. To the best of our knowledge, this paper will inspire alternative methods in the selective detection and elimination of heavy metal ions in polluted waters.

View all citing articles on Scopus

¹: These authors contributed equally to this work.

View full text

A highly facile and selective Chemo-Paper-Sensor (CPS) for detection of strontium

Highlights

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Chemicals and sampling

Detection of Sr2+ ions

Conclusions

Acknowledgment

Anal. Chim. Acta

Earth. Planet. Sci. Lett.

Toxicology

J. Environ. Radioact.

Instrumental isotope fractionation in multiple-collector icp-ms

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

Recurrent pterygia: results of postoperative treatment with Sr-90 applicators

Radiology

Fluorescent sensors for measuring metal ions in living systems

Chem. Rev.

A low cost, safe, disposable, rapid and self-sustainable paper-based platform for diagnostic testing: lab-on-paper

Nanotechnology

β-Galactosidase-based colorimetric paper sensor for determination of heavy metals

Anal. Chem.

Toward instrument-free digital measurements: a three-dimensional microfluidic device fabricated in a single sheet of paper by double-sided printing and lamination

Lab. Chip