A simple, rapid, and low-cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman Scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levels

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly specific, sensitive, and portable technique with great potential for on-site pesticide detection and monitoring. Endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide known for its high toxicity, slow degradation, and bioaccumulation, has poor affinity for me...

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Main Authors: A Falamas, I A Brezestean, N Tosa, S Boca, C Farcau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2024-01-01
Series:Nano Express
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/2632-959X/ad858f
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author A Falamas
I A Brezestean
N Tosa
S Boca
C Farcau
author_facet A Falamas
I A Brezestean
N Tosa
S Boca
C Farcau
author_sort A Falamas
collection DOAJ
description Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly specific, sensitive, and portable technique with great potential for on-site pesticide detection and monitoring. Endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide known for its high toxicity, slow degradation, and bioaccumulation, has poor affinity for metallic SERS substrates. This study presents a label-free SERS detection method for endosulfan, using aggregating agents like potassium chloride (KCl), potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium bromide (KBr), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to modify the behavior of Ag colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) and enhance the SERS signal of endosulfan molecules trapped within formed hot-spots. We analyzed the UV–Vis spectra, the hydrodynamic diameter, and zeta-potential of Ag NPs with the addition of these agents and endosulfan. Successful detection of both α - and ß- endosulfan isomers at μM concentrations in both ethanol and methanol was achieved with KOH-treated Ag NPs. The method was also applied to detect endosulfan in real water samples, along with simultaneous detection of λ -cyhalothrin, showcasing its capability to identify multiple analytes. The selectivity and specificity were confirmed using a mixture of endosulfan and thiabendazole, highlighting the crucial role of selecting the appropriate aggregating agent for each analyte. Overall, the findings emphasize the potential of aggregating agents to mediate the SERS enhancement of endosulfan, facilitating simple and rapid protocols for environmental pollutant detection, while shedding light on the intricate interplay between NP behavior, surface chemistry, and analyte interaction.
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spelling doaj-art-e4641634d3fa40339ef0ec99a2a9beb52025-08-20T02:44:55ZengIOP PublishingNano Express2632-959X2024-01-015404500610.1088/2632-959X/ad858fA simple, rapid, and low-cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman Scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levelsA Falamas0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6449-057XI A Brezestean1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6374-5155N Tosa2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4097-0656S Boca3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9369-3488C Farcau4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8602-0771National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Interdisciplinary Research Institute in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University , 42 Treboniu Laurian, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaSurface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly specific, sensitive, and portable technique with great potential for on-site pesticide detection and monitoring. Endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide known for its high toxicity, slow degradation, and bioaccumulation, has poor affinity for metallic SERS substrates. This study presents a label-free SERS detection method for endosulfan, using aggregating agents like potassium chloride (KCl), potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium bromide (KBr), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to modify the behavior of Ag colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) and enhance the SERS signal of endosulfan molecules trapped within formed hot-spots. We analyzed the UV–Vis spectra, the hydrodynamic diameter, and zeta-potential of Ag NPs with the addition of these agents and endosulfan. Successful detection of both α - and ß- endosulfan isomers at μM concentrations in both ethanol and methanol was achieved with KOH-treated Ag NPs. The method was also applied to detect endosulfan in real water samples, along with simultaneous detection of λ -cyhalothrin, showcasing its capability to identify multiple analytes. The selectivity and specificity were confirmed using a mixture of endosulfan and thiabendazole, highlighting the crucial role of selecting the appropriate aggregating agent for each analyte. Overall, the findings emphasize the potential of aggregating agents to mediate the SERS enhancement of endosulfan, facilitating simple and rapid protocols for environmental pollutant detection, while shedding light on the intricate interplay between NP behavior, surface chemistry, and analyte interaction.https://doi.org/10.1088/2632-959X/ad858fsilver colloidal nanoparticlesaggregating agentsorganochlorine pesticideSERSenvironmental monitoringwater pollutants
spellingShingle A Falamas
I A Brezestean
N Tosa
S Boca
C Farcau
A simple, rapid, and low-cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman Scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levels
Nano Express
silver colloidal nanoparticles
aggregating agents
organochlorine pesticide
SERS
environmental monitoring
water pollutants
title A simple, rapid, and low-cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman Scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levels
title_full A simple, rapid, and low-cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman Scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levels
title_fullStr A simple, rapid, and low-cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman Scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levels
title_full_unstemmed A simple, rapid, and low-cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman Scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levels
title_short A simple, rapid, and low-cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman Scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levels
title_sort simple rapid and low cost approach for colloidal nanoparticle based surface enhanced raman scattering detection of endosulfan pesticide at trace levels
topic silver colloidal nanoparticles
aggregating agents
organochlorine pesticide
SERS
environmental monitoring
water pollutants
url https://doi.org/10.1088/2632-959X/ad858f
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