Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles obtained from charcoal via green methods and their application for sensing Fe3+ in an aqueous medium

Two green methods (microwave and hydrothermal) were employed for the preparation of water dispersible fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) from activated charcoal. Microwave and hydrothermally synthesized carbon nanoparticles, (MW-CNPs) and (HT-CNPs), respectively were characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. A detailed study of their fluorescence characteristics was made. MW-CNPs and HT-CNPs were tested for metal ion selectivity in aqueous medium. MW-CNPs showed selectivity for Fe3+ among the tested metal ions and important studies such as for interference, linear range and limit of detection were carried out. The application of MW-CNPs for detection of Fe3+ in water was demonstrated.