Yangjun Ding

Bio: Yangjun Ding is an academic researcher from Qufu Normal University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Detection limit & Tap water. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 6 publications receiving 246 citations.

Nanomaterial-based optical sensors for mercury ions

Abstract: As one of the most toxic heavy metals, mercury ion (Hg 2+ ) has become a concern focus for its severe threats to environment and human health. As a result, it is of great importance to develop novel methods to realize the recognition and quantification of Hg 2+ . The past decades witness the development of nanomaterial-based optical sensors for Hg 2+ detection, showing the benefits of simplicity, rapidity, high sensitivity and selectivity, and cost-effectiveness. The reported methods have allowed the detectability down to nanomolar concentrations or much lower levels, and proved their practical applications for detecting and quantifying Hg 2+ in synthetic solutions or natural water samples. In this review, we summarize the published innovations in nanomaterial-based optical sensors for the detection of Hg 2+ according to different sensing strategies, including colorimetric, fluorescent and surface enhanced Raman scattering detection. Moreover, some challenges and significant attempts related to these methods are also discussed.

Synthesis of multi-ion imprinted polymers based on dithizone chelation for simultaneous removal of Hg2+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+ from aqueous solutions

Abstract: Simultaneous analysis and removal of various heavy metal ions has received increasing concerns because they are usually co-existent with different toxicological effects. Ion imprinted polymers (IIPs) can effectively identify water-soluble ions especially heavy metal ions, however, multi-ion imprinting is rarely performed owing to possible cross-reactivity and matrix interferences. In this work, a novel and generally applicable IIPs strategy was proposed for simultaneous preconcentration and removal of four heavy metal ions based on dithizone chelation. Multi-ion imprinted polymers (MIIPs) embedded in a sol–gel matrix were prepared by using Hg2+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+ as templates and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a functional monomer, and the possible synergy mechanism was explored between dithizone coordination chemistry and multi-ion imprinting. The structures, morphologies and thermostability of MIIPs were well characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The resultant MIIPs showed high binding capacity and fast dynamics, and the adsorption processes obeyed Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order dynamic models. The MIIPs displayed excellent selectivity toward the four target ions particularly over Pb2+, Zn2+ and Co2+ with selective coefficients of 6.8–16.9, as well as high anti-interference ability when confronted with common co-present various ions. Moreover, a high preparation yield of 41% and good reusability over 90% desorption efficiency were obtained. Consequently, the MIIPs were used as solid-phase extraction sorbents for preconcentration of trace Hg2+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+, presenting high detectability up to 6.0–22.5 ng L−1 and satisfactory recoveries ranging from 94.7–110.2% in seawater samples. The developed MIIPs-based method proved to be a practically feasible method in heavy metal removal and water pretreatment.

Speciation analysis of mercury in water samples by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled to capillary electrophoresis

Abstract: In this study, a method of pretreatment and speciation analysis of mercury by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction along with CE was developed. The method was based on the fact that mercury species including methylmercury (MeHg), ethylmercury (EtHg), phenylmercury (PhHg), and Hg(II) were complexed with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol to form hydrophobic chelates and l-cysteine could displace 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol to form hydrophilic chelates with the four mercury species. Factors affecting complex formation and extraction efficiency, such as pH value, type, and volume of extractive solvent and disperser solvent, concentration of the chelating agent, ultrasonic time, and buffer solution were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factors were 102, 118, 547, and 46, and the LODs were 1.79, 1.62, 0.23, and 1.50 g/L for MeHg, EtHg, PhHg, and Hg(II), respectively. Method precisions (RSD, n = 5) were in the range of 0.29-0.54% for migration time, and 3.08-7.80% for peak area. Satisfactory recoveries ranging from 82.38 to 98.76% were obtained with seawater, lake, and tap water samples spiked at three concentration levels, respectively, with RSD (n = 5) of 1.98-7.18%. This method was demonstrated to be simple, convenient, rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally benign, and could be used as an ideal alternative to existing methods for analyzing trace residues of mercury species in water samples.

Determination of three phenoxyacid herbicides in environmental water samples by the application of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Abstract: An efficient method based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with micellar electrokinetic chromatography has been developed for determination of three phenoxyacid herbicides (PAs) of 2,4-dichlorophenoxybutyric acid (2,4-DB), dicamba and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), in environmental water samples. The types and volumes of extracting and dispersing solvents, ionic strength, extraction and centrifugation time and centrifugation speed were investigated. Successful separation of the three PAs was achieved within 7 min, by using the background electrolyte solution consisting of 10 mmol L-1 sodium tetraborate, 25 mmol L-1 sodium dodecyl sulfate and 15% (v/v) methanol, at pH 9.75. Excellent analytical performances were attained, such as good linear relationships (R a parts per thousand yen0.9993) between peak area and concentration for each PAs from 10-1000 ng mL(-1), limits of detection of 1.56-1.91 ng mL(-1), and intra-day precisions at two spiked levels in terms of migration time and peak area within the range of 0.22-0.42% and 3.88-6.39%, respectively. Enrichment factors of 2,4-DB, dicamba and 2,4-D were 180, 151 and 216, respectively. The method recoveries obtained at fortified 20.0, 50.0 and 100.0 ng mL(-1) for lake, river and reservoir water samples varied from 67.91 to 119.07% with the relative standard deviation of 1.47-6.89%.

Strategies of molecular imprinting-based solid-phase extraction prior to chromatographic analysis

Abstract: Molecular imprinting-based solid-phase extraction (MI-SPE) has been in the spotlight to improve the recognition selectivity and detection sensitivity. MI-SPE provides a powerful tool for chemo/bioanalysis in complex matrices and meanwhile, benefits from distinguished advantages such as easy operation, high throughput, low cost, high selectivity and durability. This review proposed the recent advances in molecular imprinting concerning novel preparation strategies of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and typical applications of MI-SPE. Preparation strategies are highlighted by dividing into ten sections mainly including dummy imprinting, multi-template imprinting, surface imprinting, water-compatible imprinting, restricted access material combining imprinting etc.; each section provides the descriptions about what restrictions led to the emergence of any strategy, strengths/weaknesses of every strategy and universal applications of upgraded MIPs in various SPE modes prior to chromatographic analysis. The potential of MIPs for implementation in routine laboratory activities and scale-up is expected, and finally remaining challenges and future perspectives are proposed.

Colorimetric detection of mercury species based on functionalized gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: The speciation analysis of heavy metal pollutants is very important because different species induce different toxicological effects. Nanomaterial-assisted optical sensors have achieved rapid developments, displaying wide applications to heavy metal ions but few to metal speciation analysis. In this work, a novel colorimetric nanosensor strategy for mercury speciation was proposed for the first time, based on the analyte-induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with the assistance of a thiol-containing ligand of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC). Upon the addition of mercury species, because Hg-DDTC was more stable than Cu-DDTC, a place-displacement between Hg species and Cu2+ would occur, and thereby the functionalized Au NPs would aggregate, resulting in a color change. Moreover, by virtue of the masking effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), the nanosensor could readily discriminate organic mercury and inorganic mercury (Hg2+), and it is thus anticipated to shed some light on the color...

Nanomaterial-based optical chemical sensors for the detection of heavy metals in water: Recent advances and challenges

Abstract: The anthropogenic release of heavy metals into the natural water has become a global epidemic. Heavy metal contamination poses serious threats to human health and the environment. Therefore, the development of sensors for monitoring of these toxic metals in different matrices, especially in water, is very important. As a powerful analytical tool, nanomaterial-based chemical sensors have been extensively employed for the detection of heavy metals. These nanosensors offer several advantages including high sensitivity, selectivity, portability, on-site detection ability and improved performance of devices. Moreover, the deployment of molecular recognition probe on the nanostructures for the selective binding have enhanced the selectivity and detection ability. In this review, we critically engross on the recent progress in the design of nanomaterial-based sensors for the detection of heavy metals using various sensing strategies. The optical sensors focused and discussed in the review include fluorescent, surface enhanced Raman scattering and surface plasmon resonance sensors.