Nanocomposite membranes as highly selective and sensitive mercury(II) detectors

A new solid-state membrane filter was prepared by filtering nanoparticles of a fluorophoric mercury(II) detecting molecule dispersed in water through a nanopore size cellulose membrane. By this method, nanoparticles are uniformly coated onto the membrane fibres to form a nanocomposite membrane for selective detection of mercury(II) ions in water allowing trace analysis-down to the ppb level-of this highly toxic metal.