Bioinspired silver nanoparticles using Parthenium hysterophorus leaf extract for colorimetric detection of lead(II) ions

Lead (Pb) is one of the major heavy metal pollutants that can cause serious health problems to humans and the environment. This indicates that its concentration should be known to learn its levels in various environmental systems, and a powerful and economical analytical technique should be there to do so. In this study we report a simple, rapid, cost-effective and environmentally friendly colorimetric sensor based on biosynthesised AgNPs using Parthenium hysterophorus leaf extract. The biosynthesised AgNPs were characterised by UV-vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDS techniques. These nanoparticles were utilised to develop colorimetric sensor for Pb(II) detection. The developed AgNPs-based colorimetric sensor was sensitive and selective towards Pb(II) with the limit of detections of 2.8 and 0.08 mu M by visual and UV-vis detection techniques, respectively. The method also exhibited excellent linearity (R-2 = 0.9959) within 0.5 to 100 mu M concentration range and precision (intra-day and inter-day %RSD values were 2.78% and 3.40%, respectively). The practical application of the developed AgNPs-based sensor was investigated for colorimetric detection of Pb(II) in various real-world samples such as wastewater effluents, leakage, fresh water, tap water and soft drink. The percent recoveries of the tested samples ranged from 99.5-108% indicating the potential applicability of the technique. In general, the nano-sensor is green, exhibited a potential sensitivity and applicability, and hence, recommended for the detection of Pb(II) ions in various water samples.

Automated summary

A colorimetric sensor based on silver nanoparticles was developed for the detection of Pb(II) ions. The sensor is simple, rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, and exhibits sensitivity and selectivity towards Pb(II). It showed high recovery rates in various real-world samples.