Synthesis and application of colloidal beta-cyclodextrin-decorated silver nanoparticles for rapid determination of malachite green in environmental water using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

In this study, a green synthesis method of colloidal silver nanoparticles based on the traditional silver mirror reaction induced by adding beta-cyclodextrin (CD) to [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ solution was proposed. The beta-cyclodextrin-decorated silver nanoparticles (CD-AgNPs) were applied to the rapid determination of malachite green (MG) in environmental water using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with peaks at 1175, 1220, 1298, and 1618 cm⁻¹. The effects of the synthesis parameters including the amount of [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ solution and CD, and the effects of analysis parameters including the amount and mixing time of CD-AgNPs and acidity regulator, were investigated. The analytical response to MG was linear in a concentration range of 0.010–0.15 mg L⁻¹, with the correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.9916–0.9988 and a detection limit of 1 μg L⁻¹. Recoveries obtained by analyzing the 6 spiked environmental water samples were between 85.3 and 103.2%.