CARBON DOTS (CDS) BASED ON KLUWAK SHELLS (PANGIUM EDULE) USING A MICROWAVE-ASSISTED TECHNIQUE FOR DETECTION OF HEAVY METAL LEAD (PB)

Abstract

The potential of kluwak shell biomass for use as carbon dots (CDs) has been extensively studied. Kluwak shells contain high levels of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose, making them a suitable carbon source for CD synthesis. This study aims to synthesize and characterize carbon dots (CDs) derived from kluwak shells using a microwave technique, as well as to evaluate their potential as fluorescent sensors for detecting the heavy metal lead (Pb). The synthesis process was carried out with heating times of 0, 15, 20, and 25 minutes. Characterization was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Photoluminescence (PL). FTIR results indicated the presence of C=O, O–H, C=C, and C–O functional groups on the CDs surface. UV-Vis testing revealed two absorption peaks at wavelengths of 241–280 nm, while PL showed an emission peak at 506 nm with bright blue fluorescence. Sensitivity tests confirmed that the emission intensity decreases as the Pb concentration increases, with sensitivity values ranging from 0.116 to 0.771. These results indicate that CDs derived from kluwak shells have the potential to be used as simple, environmentally friendly, and effective sensors for detecting Pb metal ions at low concentrations.