Rapid detection of total chromium in water bodies using AuAgPd trimetallic nanoparticles-modified filter paper combined with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Heavy metal contamination in water bodies poses a severe threat to ecosystems and human health, thereby necessitating the development of rapid and highly sensitive detection methods. Traditional laboratory detection techniques are limited in their widespread application due to expensive equipment and complex operational procedures. To address this issue, we developed a rapid detection technique based on AuAgPd trimetallic nanoparticles(TNPs)-modified filter paper combined with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the determination of total chromium (Cr) in water. AuAgPdTNPs-modified filter paper efficiently enriches Cr of different valence states, while LIBS quantifies total Cr from its characteristic emission lines. Experimental results demonstrate that the limit of detection (LOD) of total Cr is 0.21 μg/L (4 nM), showing good linearity in the ranges of 0–50 μg/L and 50–1000 μg/L. In tests with actual water samples, the method showed high reliability, with recovery rates ranging from 95.24 % to 106.15 %. This technology provides a novel solution for the rapid detection of heavy metal pollution in water bodies and holds broad application prospects.