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In-situ synthesized ZIF-67 graphene oxide (ZIF-67/GO) nanocomposite for efficient individual and simultaneous detection of heavy metal ions

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Abstract

Heavy metals are ubiquitous in water bodies as a result of anthropogenic activities and over time they accumulate in body thus posing serious health problems. Therefore, it is essential to improve sensing performance, for determination of heavy metal ions (HMIs), of electrochemical sensors. In this work, cobalt-derived MOF (ZIF-67) was in-situ synthesized and incorporated onto the surface of graphene oxide (GO) by simple sonication method. The prepared material (ZIF-67/GO) was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy. Afterwards, a sensing platform was made by drop-casting synthesized composite onto glassy carbon electrode for individual and simultaneous detection of heavy metal ions pollutants (Hg2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cr3+) with estimated detection limits of 2 nM, 1 nM, 5 nM, and 0.6 nM, respectively, when determined simultaneously, that are below the permissible limit by World Health Organization. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report of HMIs detection by ZIF-67 incorporated GO sensor which can successfully determine the Hg+2, Zn+2, Pb+2, and Cr+3 ions simultaneously with lower detection limits.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Prof. DaWei Li, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, for facilitating SEM characterization.

Funding

The authors acknowledge the partial support by COMSTECH-TWAS, 17–274 RG/REN/AS_C – FR3240300075.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Mariam Ghafoor & Sara Riaz

  2. Department of Physics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Zaib Ullah Khan

  3. IRCBM, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

    Mian Hasnain Nawaz & Abdur Rahim

  4. Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Park Road, Tarlai Kalan, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan

    Abdur Rahim

  5. Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan, 60800, Pakistan

    Naeem Akhtar

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  1. Mariam Ghafoor
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  4. Naeem Akhtar
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  5. Abdur Rahim
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  6. Sara Riaz
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Contributions

Mariam Ghafoor did the synthesis and electrochemical studies and wrote the initial draft of manuscript. Zaib Ullah Khan did some of the electrochemical experiments. Mian Hasnain Nawaz facilitated in providing raw materials and contributed in writing discussion. Naeem Akhtar and Abdul Rahim assisted in electrochemical studies. Sara Riaz conceived and designed the research and corrected the manuscript. Finally, all authors read the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Abdur Rahim or Sara Riaz.

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Ghafoor, M., Khan, Z.U., Nawaz, M.H. et al. In-situ synthesized ZIF-67 graphene oxide (ZIF-67/GO) nanocomposite for efficient individual and simultaneous detection of heavy metal ions. Environ Monit Assess 195, 423 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-10966-8

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