Organic matrices for the detection and monitoring of environmental analytes

Abstract

This work attempts to extend ongoing research in the domain of environmental monitoring. The first of the two objectives in this project has been carried forward keeping in mind the ever-growing problem of water pollution. One step toward water remediation is finding new ways to detect and/or remove pollutants from water, especially organic dyes. Many physical and chemical techniques have been employed for detecting dyes in water samples, the most recent of them being fluorescence-based sensors. This study focuses on checking the applicability of one such class of fluorescent biosensors, called carbon quantum dots, or CQDs, for this purpose. Spike and recovery experiments revealed the influence of different water matrices on the sensing ability of CQDs. The next step after successfully detecting the analyte is its removal. For this purpose, a physical system consisting of alginate beads containing activated charcoal is used. Adsorption capacity of said system is tested to see the extent of adsorption of selected synthetic dyes carried out by it, under different parameters. Empirical data reveals that this system is an efficient method of ridding water from contaminants, specifically dyes.