Fluorophore-modified Fe3O4-magnetic-nanoparticles for determination of heavy metal ions in water

A prototype of fluorescence sensor, based on 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone (1,4-DHAQ) derivative and 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (Fmoc-Cl) co-modified Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticals (MNPs) (denoted as 1,4-DHAQ/Fmoc-Cl co-modified Fe 3 O 4 MNPs), has been achieved via solvothermal synthesis of amine-functionalized Fe 3 O 4 MNPs and subsequent surface co-modification of 1,4-DHAQ derivative and Fmoc-Cl onto the Fe 3 O 4 MNPs. The 1,4-DHAQ/Fmoc-Cl co-modified Fe 3 O 4 MNPs can be used for not only simple rapid qualitative detection of Cu 2+ , Cd 2+ , Zn 2+ and Hg 2+ in aqueous solution, but also quantitative analysis of the above four heavy metal ions with lower detection limits of 8   ×   10 −9 , 1.5   ×   10 −8 , 10 −8 and 10 −8   M, respectively. This is the first prototype of fluorescence sensor that has potentials in the detection of Cu 2+ , Cd 2+ , Zn 2+ and Hg 2+ in aqueous solutions and even in drinking water . The sensor designing idea might be extended to other multifunctional chemosensors .