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Silica‐based Materials for Mercury Detection and Removal: A Chelation‐Free Solution

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In this study, we introduce a chelation‐free approach to the dual‐functional detection and removal of Hg 2+ ions using two novel silica‐based materials, AnSiO 2 and PySiO 2 , functionalized with anthracene and pyrene, respectively. These materials were synthesized via a two‐step process involving the direct condensation of triethoxyvinylsilane onto silica gel surfaces, followed by Heck coupling with 9‐bromoanthracene and 1‐bromopyrene, respectively. They exhibit strong fluorescence emission in aqueous solutions, particularly at pH 6. Upon exposure to Hg 2+ ions, both materials undergo significant fluorescence quenching, enabling sensitive and selective detection of Hg 2+ . PySiO 2 demonstrated superior performance compared to AnSiO 2 , with a lower detection limit (0.29 μM) and a higher Stern‐Volmer constant (2×10 6 M −1 ). Additionally, PySiO 2 shows a higher adsorption capacity for Hg 2+ , reaching 54.04mg/g, as confirmed by ICP‐MS analysis. The sensing mechanism involves charge‐dipole and π‐electron interactions, supported by spectroscopic analyses. Reusable for four cycles, PySiO 2 effectively removes Hg 2+ from aquaculture water, showcasing its potential for scalable, cost‐effective, and simultaneous detection and remediation of mercury in real‐world applications.
Language: English
Subfield: Spectroscopy
Field: Chemistry
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,520
OpenAlex ID: W4407316644
FWCI: 0.253
Cites: 79
Cited by: 1
Related to: 10