Organotrialkoxysilane-Functionalized Prussian Blue Nanoparticles-Mediated Fluorescence Sensing of Arsenic(III)

Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBN) exhibit selective fluorescence quenching behavior with heavy metal ions; in addition, they possess characteristic oxidant properties both for liquid–liquid and liquid–solid interface catalysis. Here, we propose to study the detection and efficient removal of toxic arsenic(III) species by materializing these dual functions of PBN. A sophisticated PBN-sensitized fluorometric switching system for dosage-dependent detection of As(3+) along with PBN-integrated SiO(2) platforms as a column adsorbent for biphasic oxidation and elimination of As(3+) have been developed. Colloidal PBN were obtained by a facile two-step process involving chemical reduction in the presence of 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyl trimethoxysilane (EETMSi) and cyclohexanone as reducing agents, while heterogeneous systems were formulated via EETMSi, which triggered in situ growth of PBN inside the three-dimensional framework of silica gel and silica nanoparticles (SiO(2)). PBN-induced quenching of the emission signal was recorded with an As(3+) concentration (0.05–1.6 ppm)-dependent fluorometric titration system, owing to the potential excitation window of PBN (at 480–500 nm), which ultimately restricts the radiative energy transfer. The detection limit for this arrangement is estimated around 0.025 ppm. Furthermore, the mesoporous and macroporous PBN-integrated SiO(2) arrangements might act as stationary phase in chromatographic studies to significantly remove As(3+). Besides physisorption, significant electron exchange between Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) lattice points and As(3+) ions enable complete conversion to less toxic As(5+) ions with the repeated influx of mobile phase. PBN-integrated SiO(2) matrices were successfully restored after segregating the target ions. This study indicates that PBN and PBN-integrated SiO(2) platforms may enable straightforward and low-cost removal of arsenic from contaminated water.