In a study by the University of Twente (UT), researchers have developed a new approach to detect pollutants that have potential human health implications, UT says in a press release.
Why you need to know this:
Innovations, such as the new sensor being developed at the university, could ultimately transform healthcare.
Perchlorate salts are chemicals. They have a slightly negative charge, which can interfere with thyroid function. This can lead to a slow-working thyroid. These molecules are readily soluble in water, but difficult to detect. Therefore, the researchers worked on developing a new material that can bind these perchlorate salts and send a signal when they are detected.
The sensor
The researchers used a special kind of molecule (an anion receptor) that binds to a gold surface. They tried several options and eventually found a substance that sticks well to perchlorate salts and can detect them in a variety of situations. “These findings offer a promising method for monitoring and tackling this environmental pollutant,” says University of Twente researcher Jurriaan Huskens, one of the study’s authors.
Not only can this material recognise perchlorates very precisely, but you can also use it multiple times. This allows you to constantly check in real-time whether there are perchlorates in a flowing liquid.In future research, the researchers want to expand the scope of application of these sensor molecules and develop more selective and sensitive anion sensors.
The study is a collaboration between researchers from the University of Twente’s MESA+ Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Technology and the Open University of Israel. The published paper is open-access and can be read online.
Related Posts
