Schiff base capped gold nanoparticles for transition metal cation sensing in organic media

Abstract

We report a fast and ultrasensitive colorimetric method for the detection of transition metal ions (Fe3+, Cu2+, Ni2+) in a mixture of toluene-acetonitrile using Schiff base functionalized gold nanoparticles. We achieved limits of detection for the three metal ions at least two orders of magnitude lower than the EU recommended limits. Finally, our methodology was assessed for the determination of nickel in the organic waste of a relevant industrial reaction.