Label-free heavy metal ion sensing via smartphone based app

Rajib Biswas; Chinmay Barman; Ashamoni Neog; Sankar Biswas; Nirmal Mazumder

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138231

Label-free heavy metal ion sensing via smartphone based app

Chemosphere. 2023 May:322:138231. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138231. Epub 2023 Feb 23.

Authors

Rajib Biswas¹, Chinmay Barman², Ashamoni Neog², Sankar Biswas³, Nirmal Mazumder⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physics, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India. Electronic address: rajib@tezu.ernet.in.
² Department of Physics, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India.
³ Department of English, Amguri College, Assam, India.
⁴ Department of Biophysics, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.

PMID: 36841452
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138231

Abstract

The proliferation of heavy metal ions in water has been a serious problem that has been escalating day by day. Rapid detection of these ions in an aqueous solution is of immense significance to keep them within permissible limit. To address the growing concentration of heavy metal ions, we report a facile and cost-effective sensing scheme. Based on intensity modulation, the sensing scheme comprises of a smartphone, light source, and analyte. The results reveal that the concentration of heavy metal ions can be detected at ppb level. The sensing scheme renders an average limit of detection (LOD) of ∼0.5 ppb for those assessed ions. Further, spiked tap water has also been assessed to check the applicability of the scheme which eventually yields a ∼95% recovery level. Overall, the sensing scheme with minimal logistics is believed to replace the complex analysis procedure executed through bulky and sophisticated instruments.

Keywords: Heavy metal ions; Sensor; Smartphone; app.

MeSH terms

Ions
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
Mobile Applications*
Smartphone
Water

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Water
Ions