Characterization of the Optical Properties of Heavy Metal Ions Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Technique

Yap Wing Fen, W. Mahmood Mat Yunus
DOI: 10.4236/opj.2011.13020                

Abstract

The aim of this research is to characterize the optical properties of heavy metal ions (Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺) using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique. Glass cover slips, used as substrates were coated with a 50 nm gold film using sputter coater. The measurement was carried out at room temperature using Kretchmann SPR technique. When the air medium outside the gold film is changed to heavy metal ions solution, the resonance angle shifted to the higher value for all samples of heavy metal ions solution. By our developed fitting program (using Matlab software), the experimental SPR curves were fitted to obtain the refractive index of Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions solution with different concentrations. Both the real and imaginary part of refractive index of the heavy metal ions solution increased with the concentration. The results give the basic idea such that the SPR technique could be used as an alternative optical sensor for detecting heavy metal ions in solution.

Keywords

Surface Plasmon Resonance, Optical Properties, Heavy Metal Ions

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	H. M. Kagan and W. Li, “Lysyl Oxidase: Properties, Specificity, and Biological Roles Inside and Outside of the Cell,” Journal of Cellular Biocheistry, Vol. 88, No. 4, 2003, pp. 660-672. doi:10.1002/jcb.10413
[2]	I. Hamza and J. D. Gitlin, “Copper Chaperones for Cytochrome c Oxidase and Human Disease,” Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, Vol. 34, No. 5, 2002, pp. 381-388. doi:10.1023/A:1021254104012
[3]	L. Cai, X. K. Li, Y. Song and M. G. Cherian, “Essentiality, Toxicology, and Chelation Therapy of Zinc and Copper,” Current Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 12, No. 23, 2005, pp. 2753-2763. doi:10.2174/092986705774462950
[4]	T. W. Clarkson, L. Magos and G. J. Myers, “The Toxicology of Mercury—Current Exposures and Clinical Manifestations,” The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 349, No. 18, 2003, pp. 1731-1737. doi:10.1056/NEJMra022471
[5]	F. Pizarro, M. Olivares, V. Gidi and M. Araya, “The Gastrointestinal Tract and Acute Affects of Copper in Drinking Water and Beverages,” Reviews on Environmental Health, Vol. 14, No. 4, 1999, pp. 231-238. doi:10.1515/REVEH.1999.14.4.231
[6]	H. C. Gonick and J. R. Behari, “Is Lead Exposure the Principle Cause of Essential Hypertension?” Medical Hypotheses, Vol. 59, No. 3, 2002, pp. 239-246. doi:10.1016/S0306-9877(02)00207-4
[7]	R. R. Dietert, J. E. Lee and I. Hussain and M. Piepenbrink, “Developmental Immunotoxicology of Lead,” Toxicology Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 198, No. 2, 2004, pp. 86-94. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2003.08.020
[8]	R. A. Goyer, “Results of Lead Research: Prenatal Exposure and Neurological Consequences,” Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 104, No. 10, 1996, pp. 1050- 1054. doi:10.1289/ehp.961041050
[9]	B. Liedberg, C. Nylander and I. Lundstrom, “Surface Plasmon Resonance for Gas Detection and Biosensing,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Vol. 4, 1983, pp. 299-304. doi:10.1016/0250-6874(83)85036-7
[10]	J. Homola, S. S. Yee and G. Gauglitz, “Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors: Review,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Vol. 54, No. 1-2, 1999, pp. 3-15. doi:10.1016/S0925-4005(98)00321-9
[11]	Z. Salamon, H. A. Macleod and G. Tollin, “Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigating the Biological and Biophysical Properties of Membrane Protein System I: Theoretical Principles,” Biochimica et Biophyica Acta, Vol. 1331, No. 2, 1997, pp. 117-129. doi:10.1016/S0304-4157(97)00004-X
[12]	K. Matsubara, S. Kawata and S. Minami, “Optical Che- mical Sensor Based on Surface Plasmon Measurement,” Applied Optics, Vol. 27, No. 6, 1988, pp. 1160-1163. doi:10.1364/AO.27.001160
[13]	H. Kano and S. Kawata, “Grating-Coupled Surface Plasmon for Measuring the Refractive Index of a Liquid Sample,” Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 34, No. 1, 1995, pp. 331-335. doi:10.1143/JJAP.34.331
[14]	I. Chegel, Y. M. Shirshov, E. V. Piletskaya and S. A. Piletsky, “Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor for Pesticide Detection,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Vol. 48, No. 1-3, 1998, pp. 456-460. doi:10.1016/S0925-4005(98)00084-7
[15]	W. Zhen and C. Yi, “Analysis of Mono- and Oligosaccharide by Multiwavelength Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Spectroscopy,” Carbohydrate Research, Vol. 332, No. 2, 2001, pp. 209-213. doi:10.1016/S0008-6215(01)00060-X
[16]	W. Y. W. Yusmawati and M. Y. W. Mahmood, “Optical Properties and Kinetic Behavior of Chlorine in Pure Water and Swimming Pool Water Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Technique,” American Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 12, 2007, pp. 1024-1028. doi:10.3844/ajassp.2007.1024.1028
[17]	W. Y. W. Yusmawati, H. P. Chuah and M. Y. W. Mahmood, “Optical Properties and Sugar Content of Commercial Carbonated Drinks Using Surface Plasmon Re- sonance,” American Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2007, pp. 1-4. doi:10.3844/ajassp.2007.1.4
[18]	G. T. Sincerbox and J. C. Gordon, “Small Fast Large- Aperture Light Modulator Using Attenuated Total Reflection,” Applied Optics, Vol. 20, No. 8, 1981, pp. 1491- 1496. doi:10.1364/AO.20.001491
[19]	L. Lévesque, B. E. Paton and S. H. Payne, “Precise Thickness and Refractive Index Determination of Polymide Film Using Attenuated Total Reflection,” Applied Optics, Vol. 33, No. 34, 1994, pp. 8036-8040. doi:10.1364/AO.33.008036
[20]	J. Homola, “Surface Plasmon Resonance Based Sensor,” 1st Edition, Springer, New York, 2006.
[21]	A. R. Sadrolhosseini, M. M. Moksin, H. L. L. Nang, M. Norozi, W. M. M. Yunus and A. Zakaria, “Physical Properties of Normal Grade Biodiesel and Winter Grade Biodiesel,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 4, 2011, pp. 2100-2111. doi:10.3390/ijms12042100
[22]	R. C. Weast and M. J. Astle, “CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics,” 59th Edition, CRC Press, West Palm Beach, 1979.
[23]	D. J. Webb, R. P. Tatam and D. A. Jackson, “A Novel Interferometric Liquid Refractometer,” Review of Scientific Instruents, Vol. 60, No. 10, 1989, pp. 3347-3348. doi:10.1063/1.1140529
[24]	S. M. Ma, B. M. Han, J. H. Jo and S. Chang, “Optical Excitation Conditions for Surface Plasmon at an Aluminium-Liquid Interface,” Journal of the Korean Physical Society, Vol. 37, No. 5, 2000, pp. 788-792. doi:10.3938/jkps.37.788