RAPID DETECTION OF MERCURY USING AN ELECTROCHEMICAL APPROACH

Abstract

This study focuses on the development and validation of a low-cost, biofouling-resistant electrochemical sensor for trace mercury (Hg2+) detection in complex environmental and biological matrices. Although gold electrodes combined with anodic stripping voltammetry offer high sensitivity for mercury monitoring, non-specific macromolecule adsorption typically degrades sensor performance in complex matrices such as wastewater and whole blood samples. To overcome this limitation, this study introduces a biomimetic interface by functionalizing gold electrodes with a self-assembled monolayer of lubricin, a glycosylated mucin-like glycoprotein. Lubricin’s bottle-brush architecture forms a hydrated barrier that effectively excludes interfering proteins and organic foulants through steric and electrostatic repulsion, while maintaining the necessary electron transfer kinetics for mercury quantification. The performance, linearity, and sensitivity of the modified sensor were optimized and validated, demonstrating compliance with regulatory limits in both water and blood media. This research provides a resilient blueprint for decentralized, field-deployable heavy metal diagnostics in resource-limited settings.