Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles: Innovations in Metal Ion Detection and Wastewater Remediation

Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles (FONs) have become an alternative technology that can be used to detect metal ions and to clean up the water that is contaminated with pollutants. FONs have a greater sensitivity and specificity in comparison to conventional methods because they depend on fluorescence-based detection mechanisms (e.g., fluorescence enhancement, quenching, emission shifts). The paper gives a review of the synthesis, characterization and functionalization of different FONs such as polymer based nanosensors and metal doped nanoparticles. The processing of the sensing ability of these is discussed and how photoinduced electron transfer as well as the photoinduced chelation-enhanced fluorescence plays a role in the understanding of interactions between the metal ions. Moreover, we discuss the practical use of FONs in the field of environmental monitoring and wastewater purification focusing on their good performance in the selective removal of contaminants such as heavy metals and azo dyes. Although there are dramatic improvements in this field, issues like stability, regulations and possible effects on the environment is still there. It is hoped that this review will encourage more research and innovation in the development of FONs, which will be used in the pursuit of sustainable solutions to the many environmental challenges of water quality assessment and treatment in the future.