Amino Acid Assisted Detection of Heavy Metal Ions
Mentor 1
Woo Jin Chang
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
29-4-2016 1:30 PM
End Date
29-4-2016 3:30 PM
Description
Heavy metal ions such as lead and mercury are extremely toxic and have detrimental health consequences to humans and nature when introduced into sewage, food, and water. Thus, rapid and consistent detection of the heavy metal ions are essential in public safety. We are developing sensors designed to pick out specific concentrations of these heavy metals up the the regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We use Screen Printed Electrodes (SPEs) to act as a bare sensor. These electrodes are coated with a graphene oxide, which is further refined by the addition of L-Cysteine and polypyrrole. This gives the electrode's working surface a greater surface area and sensitivity with which to pick out the heavy metal ions with low detection limit. We found that the SPEs modified by the L-Cysteine had a higher sensitivity to lead ions, while the bare sensors still demonstrated good results up to a concentration of 500 ppm in DI water and 1000 ppb in a Sodium Acetate buffer solution. We are also testing developed sensors for other heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic, copper, etc. The usage of L-Cysteine on the sensor has shown a greater sensitivity to detect heavy metal ions and could be considered as a cheaper alternative to existing sensors on the market.
Amino Acid Assisted Detection of Heavy Metal Ions
Union Wisconsin Room
Heavy metal ions such as lead and mercury are extremely toxic and have detrimental health consequences to humans and nature when introduced into sewage, food, and water. Thus, rapid and consistent detection of the heavy metal ions are essential in public safety. We are developing sensors designed to pick out specific concentrations of these heavy metals up the the regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We use Screen Printed Electrodes (SPEs) to act as a bare sensor. These electrodes are coated with a graphene oxide, which is further refined by the addition of L-Cysteine and polypyrrole. This gives the electrode's working surface a greater surface area and sensitivity with which to pick out the heavy metal ions with low detection limit. We found that the SPEs modified by the L-Cysteine had a higher sensitivity to lead ions, while the bare sensors still demonstrated good results up to a concentration of 500 ppm in DI water and 1000 ppb in a Sodium Acetate buffer solution. We are also testing developed sensors for other heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic, copper, etc. The usage of L-Cysteine on the sensor has shown a greater sensitivity to detect heavy metal ions and could be considered as a cheaper alternative to existing sensors on the market.
