Separation of Atrazine and Paraquat with Functionalized Gold Nanochannels

Gold nanochannels were prepared by chemical deposition of Au(Ⅰ) onto inner porous wall of polycarbonate (PC) membrane (bore: 100 nm) at 4 ℃ for 9 h. The cleaned and dried membrane of gold nanochannels was then modified by soaking in octadecylthiol ［CH3(CH2)16CH2SH］ solution (0.1+99.9) for 12 h, thus making the Au nanochannel membrane (designated as C18H37SH-Mem) hydrophobic. When a mixed solution of atrazine and paraquat was introduced into the sample cell of the separation device, and let it to pass through the C18H37SH-Mem. UV detections at 222 nm (for atrazine) and 257 nm (for paraquat) were made with the solution in the detection cell after a defirite time intervals. It was shown by the results that only the hydrophobic atrazine was found in the detection cell and no paraquat was found because it is hydrophilic. Based on this fact, atrazine and paraquat were separated satisfactorily by using the modified Au nanochannels.