A ligand-based conjugate solid sensor for colorimetric ultra-trace gold(III) detection in urban mining waste

Detection of trace level gold (Au(III)) ion with rapid and cheaper colorimetric detections was performed. Herein, the organic ligand of 4-aminoantipyrine (AAP) was facilely supported onto the mesoporous silica nanospheres as a scaffold. The 4-aminoantipyrine (AAP) was used as a reducing and capping agent for the colorimetric sensing of a trace amount of Au(III) ion. Experimental parameters such as materials characterization, pH, contact time, and interfering ions were measured systametically. The solid sensor was formed significant color upon addition of trace Au(III) ion at optium condition. The obtained data clarified that the material was detected the trace amounts of Au(III) ion based on the detection limit of 84 nmol/L with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9939, and the linear calibration curve was obtained from 2.50x10(-9) to 5.00x10(-7) mol/L. The effect of common interfering ion was evaluated and the data clarified that the presence of diverse metal ions were not interfered in the Au(III) detection. Therefore, the proposed solid sensor was exhibited the high sensitivity and selectivity to the Au(III) ion capturing. Thus the AAP solid sensor is considered as a promising nanomaterial for Au(III) ion detection in urban mining waste samples in solution media.