A new sensor allows to analyze on-site the levels of mercury in water
July 15, 2011
From the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Jaime Veciana, researcher of this body and the director of the Studio, has highlighted the main features of this new sensor that detects the exact amount of mercury in an aqueous medium. "One of the greatest advantages of the device is its high sensitivity, higher than usual in portable devices." In fact, can detect mercury even at levels picomolares, three orders of magnitude below the limit set by the European Union (1 part trillion) "." And it is that the new sensor allows to know the amount of mercury in water more reliably and without having to send samples to the laboratory. The new system, developed by experts of the CSIC together with researchers from the universities of Murcia and Regensburg (Germany), helps to reduce costs, that the analysis carried out in situ. "Taking into account its great sensitivity as well as the ability to do analysis on the spot, avoiding the sending of samples to laboratories and the days of waiting, justified the relevance of development", said immaculate Ratera, researcher at the CSIC in the Materials Science Institute of Barcelona.
An optical sensor, the system uses resonance technique for surface Plasmon for measuring surface molecular interactions in real time. Researchers have used a modified molecule which allows the formation of a monolayer of receptor molecules autoensambladas on a gold surface. Although each chip need gold for its operation, it can be used up in four analysis, which is also advantageous for users.
.The presence of mercury in water, contamination that will more
In recent decades, mercury pollution has increased by leaps, due to the increase in the industry and the high volatility of the compound: "mercury is present in small amounts in most fuels and industrial waste." "When they are burned, passes easily into the atmosphere and to rain, accumulates in aquifers," explains the researcher at the CSIC.
In any case, the mercury, a potent neurotoxic, is difficult to eliminate, so all measures intended to reduce its presence and control levels: "In this sense, the device that we develop can help facilitate these analyses", concludes shoplifter.
