Analytical strategy to detect metal nanoparticles in mixtures without previous separation

Abstract

Citrate-stabilized silver and gold nanoparticles were detected at the pmol L−1 level in aqueous mixtureswithout previous separation by using Basic Fuchsin (BF) as molecular probe. The method was validated byapplication to spiked drinking water. In addition, another acid-base indicator, Rosolic Acid (RA) permittedthe semiquantitative detection of mixtures containing two different kinds of silver nanoparticles. Theproposed strategy represents a fast, simple and cost-effective methodology to determine mixed metalnanomaterials, being sensitive to metal identity and ligands on the metal surface.