SERS-active sorbent based on aluminum oxide loaded with silver nanoparticles

• Application of alumina loaded with AgNP as novel SERS-active sorbent for SPE is proposed.
• New synthesis of the sorbents based on alumina loaded with silver nanoparticles is described.
• Sorption properties of these sorbents are investigated with rhodamine 6G and folic acid.
• Results of artificial aggregation of AgNP on SERS enhancement of the sorbents are shown.
• Results of SERS analysis combination with SPE pre-concentration are provided.

The article describes development and application of new SERS-active sorbents for combination of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with solid-phase extraction (SPE). These sorbents are based on aluminum oxide powder loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and have been used for analyte pre-concentration with further direct detection on sorbent surface by SERS. Proposed sorbent synthesis is very easy and inexpensive while embedding of previously prepared non-aggregated or artificially aggregated AgNP to alumina matrix allows tuning optical properties and increasing Raman spectra enhancement. Surface modification of the sorbent via polyelectrolyte molecules was carried out as well in order to regulate surface charge and sorption properties. Thus, described approach can be further applied for analysis of multicomponent mixtures via SPE separation with further SERS detection.

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