Emerging Optical Approaches for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Copper in Water: A Comprehensive Review

Cu contamination in water poses serious threats to both public health and aquatic ecosystems, necessitating the development of accurate and efficient detection methods. This review study uniquely offers a comprehensive analysis of optical techniques for detecting Cu pollution in water, encompassing both reagent and reagent-less based approaches across various sensing platforms. This work sheds light on the underexplored potential of advanced optical technologies such as Colourimetry, Surface Plasmon Resonance, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and others in detecting various Cu species. The findings highlight the high sensitivity, specificity, and adaptability of optical detection methods. Reagent-based strategies provide outstanding sensitivity and selectivity but often involve elaborate sample preparation and pose risks of secondary contamination. On the other hand, reagent-less approaches offer environmentally friendly alternatives with easier implementation, though they demand careful calibration and system optimization. Future directions include the advancement of miniaturized, cost-effective optical sensors, enhanced speciation capabilities for different Cu oxidation states, and integration with real-time data acquisition, processing, and remote sensing technologies to enable robust field-based monitoring. This study aims to guide researchers, engineers, and policymakers by providing insights into the emerging optical detection technologies and their transformative potential in water quality assessment.