Preparation and application of a new ion-imprinted polymer for nanomolar detection of mercury(II) in environmental waters

This study introduces a novel ion-imprinted polymer for the ultrasensitive detection of mercury(II) in water. The ion-imprinted polymer was synthesized via a simple bulk polymerization process using methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker, morpholine-4-carbodithioic acid phenyl ester as the chelating agent, and ammonium persulfate as the initiator. The electrochemical mercury(II) sensing capability of the ion-imprinted polymer was studied via the modification of a cost-effective carbon paste electrode. A stripping voltammetric technique was utilized to quantify the analyte ions following open-circuit enrichment. Critical experimental parameters, including the nature and concentration of the eluent, solution pH, preconcentration duration, ion-imprinted polymer dosage, sample solution volume and reduction potential, were systematically studied and optimized. Under optimal conditions, the sensor exhibited a linear response in the range of 1.0 to 240.0 nM, with a low detection limit of 0.2 nM. The sensor demonstrated remarkable selectivity against potential interfering ions, including lead(II), cadmium(II), copper(II), zinc(II), manganese(II), iron(II), magnesium(II), calcium(II), sodium(I) and cobalt(II). The practical applicability of the developed method was successfully validated through the analysis of real water samples, suggesting its potential for environmental monitoring applications.