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Highlights: [•] We engineered a simple, micro-object mesosensor based on aluminosilica pellets. [•] Ultra-fast and specific remote visualization and removal of multi-toxic metals were evident. [•] The sensor shows high stability, reproducibility, and versatility over ion detections. [•] Selective removal of Hg2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ ions from drinking water and blood was evident. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] A hand-operating and easy-to-make synthesis of core double shell nanocarriers was achieved. [•] Selective recognition and removal of target ions from multi-ion mixtures were evident. [•] Ultra-trace monitoring of toxic (Cd2+, Hg2+, Co2+, and Cu2+) ions using a single technique. [•] The sensing systems showed functionality in terms of reversibility, selectivity and stability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The toxicity of mercury (Hg) to humans, including damage to the nervous system, is well known. Hg cannot be degraded into non-toxic compounds or other elements. It is released mainly through mining, industries, and fossil fuel combustion. Anthropogenic and natural activities, such as volcanoes, transform elemental Hg (Hg0) into its ionic form [Hg(II)], which bioaccumulates in biota and is biomagnified in the food chain, notably in aquatic environments. This critical report aims to control Hg(II)-ion toxicity through risk assessment, recognition, and removal via high-level waste management. We first discuss successful and up-to-date developments in different techniques, designs and studies that are potentially useful in enhancing the effectiveness of control of Hg(II)-ion toxicity. The key to designing optical nanosensors is to construct chromophore and fluorophore receptors as nanoscale platform scavengers with different functional characteristics (e.g., density, accessibility, and intrinsic mobility), which allow for easy, reliable signaling in continuous monitoring modes. We highlight a technique that depends on the use of engineered mesocage materials that have multidirectional cavities and microsized, particle-like monoliths to control the adsorption/detection of toxic metal ions, especially Hg(II) ions. With regard to proximal sensing, we consider controlled assessment processes that involve the evaluation of intrinsic properties (e.g., signal change, long-term stability, adsorption efficiency, extraordinary sensitivity, selectivity, and reusability). This study provides evidence that miniaturized mesosensor strips can revolutionize consumer and industrial markets with the introduction of ion-sensor strips. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The monitoring and removal of abundant heavy metals such as Cu ions are considerable global concerns because of their severe impact on the health of humans and other living organisms. To meet this global challenge, we engineered a novel mesoscopic capture protocol for the highly selective removal and visual monitoring of copper (Cu2+) ions from wide-ranging water sources. The capture hierarchy carriers featured three-dimensional, microsized MgO mesoarchitecture rectangular sheet-like mosaics that were randomly built in horizontal and vertical directions, uniformly arranged sheet faces, corners, and edges, smoothly quadrilateral surface coverage for strong Cu2+-to-ligand binding exposure, and multidiffusible pathways. The Cu2+ ion-selectively active captor surface design was engineered through the simple incorporation/encapsulation of a synthetic molecular chelation agent into hierarchical mesoporous MgO rectangular sheet platforms to produce a selective, visual mesoscopic captor (VMC). The nanoscale VMC dressing of MgO rectangular mosaic hierarchy by molecularly electron-enriched chelates with actively double core bindings of azo- and sulfonamide- groups and hydrophobic dodecyl tail showed potential to selectively trap and efficiently remove ultratrace Cu2+-ions with an extreme removal capability of ~233 mg/g from watery solutions, such as drinking water, hospital effluent, and food-processing wastewater at specific pH values. In addition to the Cu2+ ion-selective removal, the VMC design enabled the continuous visual monitoring of ultratrace Cu2+ ions (~3.35 × 10−8 M) as a consequence of strong chelate-to-Cu2+ binding events among all accumulated matrices in water sources. Our experimental recycle protocol provided evidence of reusability and recyclability of VMC (≥10 cycles). With our mesoscopic capture protocol, the VMC can be a promising candidate for the selective decontamination/removal and sensitive detection of hazardous inorganic pollutants from different water sources with indoor or outdoor applications. ga1 • Copper ions removal is of global concern due to its severe impact on human health. • Heterogeneous visual capture protocol was designed to remove Cu(II) ions from water. • The 3D microsized MgO mesoarchitecture was used as the capture design platform. • The VMC showed high efficiency and selectivity removal of Cu with q m of ~233 mg/g. • The VMC provides sensitive/selective captor to treat indoor/outdoor water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete remediation of extremely toxic elements, such as cadmium, must be achieved to control the various stages in their life cycles, from mining as virgin ore to using them as consumer and industrial end products, and recycling. Considerable progress has been made in monitoring cadmium ions, but sensors or captors that can simultaneously detect and remove toxic metal ions across a wide range of environments are still greatly needed. This article reviews the tools and the strategies for the environmental remediation of cadmium ions, with special emphasis on state-of-the-art colorimetric sensors. Selective colorimetric sensors based on immobilization of hydrophobic or hydrophilic chromophore molecules into nanosized space cavities have significant advantages because of their dual functionality, namely, early warning “detection” and removal of cadmium ions. This review concludes with a thorough evaluation of emerging challenges and future requirements in monitoring, detecting, and removing cadmium ions from environmental matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]