Catechol-Based Colorimetric Sensors for Lead Ions in Water
Location
Science Center Perlik Commons
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
5-13-2022 12:00 PM
End Date
5-13-2022 2:00 PM
Abstract
Heavy metals can have major public health issues when the population is exposed. This is especially true when public water sources are contaminated with metals such as lead. Our research focuses on the interaction between melanin-like materials and lead ions and other heavy metals. The polymerization of 4-methyl-catechol (4-Me-Cat) yields a melanin-like coating that binds metal ions with an observable color change. When metal ions bind to membrane discs coated with the 4-Met-Cat-based material, the discs darkening from yellow all the way to black, in the most optimal cases. The amount of heavy metal ion added to the discs, and the amount of time the discs were incubated played a large part in how much the color changed. We have looked into the kinetics of the binding with changing times and temperatures. After the color was tested, the metal ions were stripped from the discs using EDTA, but the discs did not return to their original yellow color. Instead, they became pink, suggesting that the metal ions are inducing permanent changes to the material. We have started analyzing samples of the material extracted into organic solvents through IR and UV/Vis spectroscopies, to gain an understanding of what is happening to the material and the color change mechanism. We ultimately aim to lower the detection limit to be able to accurately detect the presence of low concentrations of lead in a sample of water.
Keywords:
Lead, Melanin, Colorimetry, Sensor
Recommended Citation
Zhong, Jason; Kim, Joseph; Henning, Sam; Choi, Rachel; Jimenez, Jose; and Riggins, Makayla, "Catechol-Based Colorimetric Sensors for Lead Ions in Water" (2022). Research Symposium. 1.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2022/posters/1
Major
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project Mentor(s)
Jason Belitsky, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2022
Catechol-Based Colorimetric Sensors for Lead Ions in Water
Science Center Perlik Commons
Heavy metals can have major public health issues when the population is exposed. This is especially true when public water sources are contaminated with metals such as lead. Our research focuses on the interaction between melanin-like materials and lead ions and other heavy metals. The polymerization of 4-methyl-catechol (4-Me-Cat) yields a melanin-like coating that binds metal ions with an observable color change. When metal ions bind to membrane discs coated with the 4-Met-Cat-based material, the discs darkening from yellow all the way to black, in the most optimal cases. The amount of heavy metal ion added to the discs, and the amount of time the discs were incubated played a large part in how much the color changed. We have looked into the kinetics of the binding with changing times and temperatures. After the color was tested, the metal ions were stripped from the discs using EDTA, but the discs did not return to their original yellow color. Instead, they became pink, suggesting that the metal ions are inducing permanent changes to the material. We have started analyzing samples of the material extracted into organic solvents through IR and UV/Vis spectroscopies, to gain an understanding of what is happening to the material and the color change mechanism. We ultimately aim to lower the detection limit to be able to accurately detect the presence of low concentrations of lead in a sample of water.
