Work

Development of a methyl thymol blue-loaded alginate hydrogel for the quantitative RGB detection of Sr(II) ions in water

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Detecting Sr(II) in water is crucial due to health risks such as bone disorders and Sr-90’s cancer-related effects. This study developed a methyl thymol blue (MTB)-loaded alginate hydrogel for sensitive, on-site colorimetric detection. Biocompatible Na-Alginate hydrogels encapsulate MTB, which changes color upon Sr(II) interaction. Optimized conditions include pH, temperature, and ion concentration. Red-Green-Blue analysis using smartphones showed a a linear increase in the blue channel for 1–10 mgL−1 Sr(II), which was further confirmed by UV–Vis absorption peaks at 440 nm and 600 nm. The structural and chemical characterization of the hydrogel beads was performed using SEM, EDX, and FTIR analyses, confirming their morphology, elemental composition, and functional groups. This simple method enables real-time Sr(II) monitoring in water.

Source: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

DOI: 10.1007/s10967-025-10119-w

Authors: Alparslan Enes Oral, Şule Aytaş, Fatma Nil Ertaş

Institution: Ege University

Language: English

Topic: Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection

Subfield: Spectroscopy

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,790