Prasun k. Chatterjee
Graduate student
Research Title:
Sensing and Detection of Toxic Metals in Water with Innovative Sorption-Based Techniques
1) Rapid sensing of toxic heavy metals using pH as surrogate parameter
Research Objectives:
The primary objectives of this research were to investigate rapid and operationally simple sensing of environmentally toxic heavy metals in water using a sorption based process. A specially synthesized hybrid sorbent material forms the heart of the process which detects the presence of trace heavy metals simply through change of pH. Laboratory investigation validates detection of trace concentration (in µg/L) of lead and zinc and can avoid interference caused by phosphate and natural organic matter (NOM). According to information in open literature no technique currently exists that detects the presence of toxic heavy metals in water using pH as sole surrogate parameter.
