Gold nanoparticles for mercury determination in environmental water and vegetable samples

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with 2-mercapto succinic acid (MSA) were successfully applied for the determination of mercury in various water samples up to nanolevels without any interference. Alumina-coated MSA-capped AuNPs easily remove mercury species present in various samples. The absorbance spectrum was obtained at 547 nm. Other parameters like effect of pH, reagent concentration, interferences were studied. This method is simple, sensitive and successfully applied for the determination of mercury species in various water, soil and plant residues collected from different industrial areas.