Green Synthesized Gold Nanoparticles as a Probe for the Detection of Fe3+ Ions in Water

Pure water which is free of toxic chemicals is necessary for human health. So, detection and control of heavy metal ions in water is very important. Keeping this in mind, selective and sensitive optical sensor based on surface plasmon resonance for detection of various heavy metals in water using gold nanoparticles was explained in this present study. These AuNPs were prepared using Hibiscus cannabinus leaf extract as reducing agent with the average particle size of 22 nm. These gold nanoparticles are considerably selective and sensitive towards Fe³⁺ and it was used to detect the concentration of Fe³⁺ ions in water in the range 29.82–173.74 μM by tracking the absorbance changes of SPR band and the sensitivity of the system towards the Fe³⁺ concentration and it was found to be 0.0037 μM^?1. We hope that these gold nanoparticles can be used for detecting Fe³⁺ ions concentration, in the water purification processes.