Pb(II)-Imprinted Polymers for Construction of Lead-Selective Electrochemical Sensors

Pb(II) is an important pollutant, known for seriously affecting humans and animals. The contemporary industrial activities and their emissions of various pollutants, lead ion included, have exacerbated such effects and have hence raised concern and attention on the implications on peoples’ health. Subsequently, the quick, selective, and accurate detection of lead ions in different environmental samples is receiving marked attention. Among the various tools and techniques developed and used for such purposes, electrochemical sensors constitute a prominent class. Yet in many cases, developing effective sensors calls for developing selective ion receptors, and hence myriads of research projects have aimed at developing efficient selectophores for species like Pb(II) ions. The different ionophores developed have had their own pros and cons, and therefore different techniques have been used for designing more efficient alternative materials. An important approach in this regard has been the application of ion imprinting technology for developing highly selective materials for use in ion-selective sensors. This review tends to provide an outlook on the applications of ion imprinted polymers in developing Pb(II)-selective sensors, based on a review of the publications cited in the Scopus database, on the development of Pb(II) sensors.