A new cysteamine-copper chemically modified screen-printed gold electrode for glyphosate determination

A chemically modified screen-printed gold electrode has been prepared by covering the electrode surface with a cysteamine-copper self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The sensor was effective for the voltammetric sensing of glyphosate. The method exploits the interaction of glyphosate with copper ions complexed by cysteamine, which results in a decrease in the intensity of copper redox current. Cyclic voltammetry was employed as a measuring technique. When dealing with voltammograms with numerous peaks changing in shape and size, it is difficult to define which signal is the most significant for the analyte determination; in these cases, a helpful approach is chemometrics. In this work, PLS (Partial Least Square regression) has been applied to build models to correlate the signal with the glyphosate concentration in standard aqueous solutions and tap water samples (matrix-matched calibration). The method's figures of merits were evaluated, obtaining a limit of quantification of about 5 μM. The reliability of the proposed sensor was verified by analyzing tap water spiked with glyphosate; recoveries higher than 90 % were achieved.

Colorimetric Paper-Based Analytical Devices (PADs) Backed by Chemometrics for Pd(II) Detection

This paper presents the development of cheap and selective Paper-based Analytical Devices (PADs) for selective Pd(II) determination from very acidic aqueous solutions. The PADs were obtained by impregnating two cm-side squares of filter paper with an azoic ligand, (2-(tetrazolylazo)-1,8 dihydroxy naphthalene-3,6,-disulphonic acid), termed TazoC. The so-obtained orange TazoC-PADs interact quickly with Pd(II) in aqueous solutions by forming a complex purple-blue-colored already at pH lower than 2. The dye complexes no other metal ions at such an acidic media, making TazoC-PADs highly selective to Pd(II) detection. Besides, at higher pH values, other cations, for example, Cu(II) and Ni(II), can interact with TazoC through the formation of stable and pink-magenta-colored complexes; however, it is possible to quantify Pd(II) in the presence of other cations using a multivariate approach. To this end, UV-vis spectra of the TazoC-PADs after equilibration with the metal ions solutions were registered in the 300-800 nm wavelength range. By applying Partial Least Square regression (PLS), the whole UV-vis spectra of the TazoC-PADs were related to the Pd(II) concentrations both when present alone in solution and also in the presence of Cu(II) and Ni(II). Tailored PLS models obtained with matrix-matched standard solutions correctly predicted Pd(II) concentrations in unknown samples and tap water spiked with the metal cation, making the method promising for quick and economical sensing of Pd(II).

Disposable and Low-Cost Colorimetric Sensors for Environmental Analysis

Environmental contamination affects human health and reduces the quality of life. Therefore, the monitoring of water and air quality is important, ensuring that all areas are acquiescent with the current legislation. Colorimetric sensors deliver quick, naked-eye detection, low-cost, and adequate determination of environmental analytes. In particular, disposable sensors are cheap and easy-to-use devices for single-shot measurements. Due to increasing requests for in situ analysis or resource-limited zones, disposable sensors’ development has increased. This review provides a brief insight into low-cost and disposable colorimetric sensors currently used for environmental analysis. The advantages and disadvantages of different colorimetric devices for environmental analysis are discussed.

Low-cost, disposable colourimetric sensors for metal ions detection

In this work, two colourimetric sensors for metal ions detection are presented. The devices are obtained by fixing two classical dyes, Eriochrome Black T (EBT) and 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN), on the commercial paper sheet “Colour Catcher®” (here named under the acronym CC) generally used in the washing machine to prevent colour run problems. The devices are optical sensors, since the indicator dye, fixed on the solid material, changes its spectral properties (colour and hence UV-vis spectrum) upon contact with the metal ion solution. We used the partial least squares (PLS) regression for obtaining the relationship between the metal ion content and the UV-vis spectrum change of each sensor.

Iron(iii)-selective materials based on a catechol-bearing amide for optical sensing

The synthesis and ion-binding properties of a new amide L derived from 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid are described. Due to the presence of a catechol unit, the compound interacts selectively with iron(iii) in organic solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO) to produce a color change from pale yellow to green. The incorporation of the ligand L into polymeric matrices or its encapsulation into surfactant-based spheres enables analyte detection in aqueous solutions. The influence of the ligand environment (i.e. organic solvent, polymeric membrane or micelle) on the properties of the sensing materials is analyzed and the sensors are compared.

Unusual PLS application for Pd(ii) sensing in extremely acidic solutions

Tazoc-Mar@: a simple device that turns into a deep blue colour in presence of Pd(ii) at very low concentration.