Highly sensitive and reusable mercury (II) sensor based on fluorescence quenching of pyrene moiety in polyacrylamide-based cryogel

Abstract

A practically reusable fluorescent ion-sensing cryogel (PAAm-Pyr) was prepared through the post functionalization of macroporous polyacrylamide-based cryogel with pyrene moiety. PAAm-Pyr can sense very low concentration of Hg2+(2 ppb) in aqueous solutions and demonstrates a high selectivity for Hg2* in the presence of various competing metal ions in pure water. Developed sensor can be used many times after simple washing in pure water. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.