Colorimetric Sensor Array Based on Amino Acid-Modified Gold Nanoparticles for Toxic Metal Ion Detection in Water

Abstract

Several chromatographic and spectroscopic methods are available for the detection of toxic mercury (Hg2+) in water; however simple, rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive methods are still needed. In this chapter, we describe a facile, very sensitive, and rapid method for the colorimetric detection of Hg2+ in water with the detection limit of 2.9 nM. This simple procedure is based on the lysine-induced aggregation of citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the presence of Hg2+ ions.