Highly sensitive ratiometric quantification of cyanide in water with gold nanoparticles via Resonance Rayleigh Scattering

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 167; pp. 51 - 58
• Main Authors: Hernández, Yulán, Coello, Yves, Fratila, Raluca M., de la Fuente, Jesús M., Lionberger, Troy A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.05.2017
• Subjects: Analytical methods; Chemical sensors; Cyanide detection; Gold nanoparticles; Resonance Rayleigh Scattering; UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy; Chemical sensors; Analytical methods; Resonance Rayleigh Scattering; UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy; Cyanide detection; Gold nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.02.006

A highly sensitive and selective ratiometric sensor for the quantification of cyanide (CN−) in aqueous samples has been developed using spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized by polysorbate 40 (PS-40). Three different AuNP sizes (14, 40 and 80nm mean diameters) were used to evaluate the response of the sensor using both colorimetric and Resonance Rayleigh Scattering (RRS) detection schemes. The best results were obtained for the sensor using 40nm AuNPs, for which the limits of detection (LODs) were found to be 100nmolL−1 in a benchtop instrument and 500nmolL−1 by the naked eye, values well below the maximum acceptable level for drinking water (1.9µmolL−1) set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The practical use of the 40nm-AuNPs RRS sensor was demonstrated with the determination of CN− in drinking and fresh waters. Finally, the sensor was successfully implemented in a compact portable device consisting of two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a miniature spectrometer, turning this sensor into a very potent tool for its application as a quick routine field-deployable analytical method. [Display omitted] •Gold nanoparticles of different sizes have been evaluated for the optical quantification of cyanide.•Two different detection schemes (colorimetric and resonance Rayleigh scattering) have been evaluated.•Optimized conditions led to a limit of detection of 0.1µM in complex aqueous matrices.•The scattering sensor has been implemented in a compact, portable and inexpensive device.