Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
A Luminescence-based method of Detecting Arsenic using Atomically Precise Noble Metal Nanocluster and Phosphine
Technology Category/Market
Technology: Phosphine aided arsenic detection using luminescent atomically precise noble metal nanocluster
Category: Micro & Nano Technologies
Industry: Material Science /Chemical
Application: Detecting arsenic
Market: The global market size reached a valuation of USD 29 Billion in 2023, with projections to achieve USD 53.5 Billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.14% from 2024 to 2031.
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Problem Statement
- Arsenic, the 20th abundant element, poses a global health threat due to its widespread distribution and increasing anthropogenic activities.
- Conventional methods like AAS, ICP-MS, AFS, ICP-OES, and GFAAS are used to determine arsenic in water, soil, and food samples.
- These methods have limitations like heavy instruments, limited applicability, and the need for skilled personnel.
- Field test kits provide a cost-effective, semi-quantitative method for measuring arsenic contaminated water.
- Nanoparticle detection methods include colorimetry, fluorescence, and electrochemistry.
- Sensitive gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based assays and aptamer-conjugated AgNPs are used for colorimetric sensing of As(III) ions.
Technology
- A luminescence-based method for detecting arsenic, the said method involves
- Adding 50 μl of 10.8 mm an external phosphine reagent in 1.85 ml of arsenic containing solution;
- Adding 100 μl of atomically precise luminescent metal nanocluster protected by a water soluble ligand, Ag29LA12 nanocluster to the mixture obtained from step (i);
- Detecting the luminescence of the Ag29LA12 nanocluster from the resultant mixture;
- Characterized In That, Addition Of An External Phosphine Reagent Results In Quenching Of The Nanocluster Luminescence, While, The Presence Of As(iii/V) Ions In The Nanocluster-phosphine Medium Leads To Restoration Of The Luminescence Of Ag29la12 Nanocluster Due To Preferential Interaction Of Phosphine Reagent With Arsenic Ions
Key Features/Value Proposition
Nanocluster Restoration Method:
- Silver nanocluster protected by water-soluble lipoic acid ligand.
- Ag29LA12 nanocluster emits red luminescence at 650 nm.
- External phosphine reagent: tris-20 tricarboxy ethyl phosphine reagent.
- Ag29LA12 nanocluster loses red luminescence when exposed to external phosphine via electron transfer.
- Ag29LA12 nanocluster restores red luminescence when exposed to arsenic phosphine.
- Restoration is directly proportional to arsenic concentration in solution.
- Restoration occurs when other common and heavy metal ions are masked/scavenged.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
Research Lab
Prof. Pradeep T
Department of Chemistry
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 2179,
- Patent No: IN 484286
Technology Readiness Level
TRL-4
Experimentally validated in Lab;