Analytical Sciences

Detection and Removal of Hg²⁺ Based on Mesoporous Silica Material Functionalized by Naphthalimide in Aqueous Solution

Yong-Fei LI, Yuan-Feng WEI, Ying TAN, Xue-Fei KONG, Kai ZHOU, Zhi-Min WU, and Yue-Jin LIU

College of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, P. R. China

An inorganic–organic silica material (SBA-15-1), prepared by immobilization of the naphthalimide derivative within the channels of the mesoporous silica material SBA-15, is characterized by several spectroscopic methods. SBA-15-1 can be used as a chemical sensor for detecting and removing Hg²⁺ in a heterogeneous system. The fluorescence enhancement of SBA-15-1 was attributed to the formation of a complex between SBA-15-1 and Hg²⁺ by a 1:1 complex ratio with the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) being forbidden. The sensor can be applied to the quantification of Hg²⁺ with a linear range covering from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ M under the neutral condition. Most importantly, the fluorescence changes of the sensor are remarkably specific for Hg²⁺ in the presence of other metal ions. Moreover, the response of the sensor toward Hg²⁺ is fast and chemically reversible. In addition, the sensor has been used for the determination of Hg²⁺ in environmental samples with satisfactory results.

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