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Colorimetric and visual read-out determination of cyanuric acid exploiting the interaction between melamine and silver nanoparticles

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Abstract

We present two colorimetric procedures for the determination of cyanuric acid, using silver nanoparticle-based (AgNPs) probes. The first is making use of melamine-modified AgNPs which bind to cyanuric acid through hydrogen bonding to form a large conjugate network that enhances the aggregation of AgNPs to produce an absorbance peak at 640 nm and a green coloration. In the second assay, melamine is directly added to the sample in order to form a stable complex with cyanuric acid. AgNPs are then added, resulting in the formation of an absorbance peaking at 525 nm and a color change from green (blank sample) to purple or orange-red as a function of cyanuric acid concentration. Matrix effects, that originate from the interaction of alkaline earth metals with the charged surface of the AgNPs, are mitigated through a matrix-matched calibration. In this manner, spectral transitions can be selectively attributed to the concentration of cyanuric acid, which can be even visually quantified at low mg L−1 levels with minimum sample pre-treatment and without sophisticated instrumentation.

Two colorimetric procedures for the determination of cyanuric acid, using silver nanoparticle-based (AgNPs) probes are presented. Matrix effects, which originate from the interaction of alkaline earth metals with the charged surface of the AgNPs, are mitigated through a matrix-matched calibration. In this manner, spectral transitions can be selectively attributed to the concentration of cyanuric acid, which can be visually quantified at low mg L−1 levels with minimum sample pre-treatment and no sophisticated instrumentation.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) – Research Funding Program: THALES. Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece

    Foteini A. Kappi, George Z. Tsogas, Dimosthenis L. Giokas & Athanasios G. Vlessidis

  2. Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771, Athens, Greece

    Dionysios C. Christodouleas

Authors
  1. Foteini A. Kappi
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  2. George Z. Tsogas
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  3. Dimosthenis L. Giokas
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  4. Dionysios C. Christodouleas
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  5. Athanasios G. Vlessidis
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Correspondence to Dimosthenis L. Giokas.

Additional information

This paper was presented at the International Conference on Instrumental Methods of Analysis (IMA2013) in Thessaloniki, 15–19 September 2013.

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Kappi, F.A., Tsogas, G.Z., Giokas, D.L. et al. Colorimetric and visual read-out determination of cyanuric acid exploiting the interaction between melamine and silver nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 181, 623–629 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1163-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1163-3

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