Colorimetric differentiation of arsenite and arsenate anions using a bithiophene sensor with two binding sites: DFT studies and application in food and water samples

Chemosensor N7R1 with two acidic binding sites was synthesized, and the ability of the sensor to differentiate arsenite and arsenate in the organo-aqueous medium was evaluated using colorimetric sensing methods. N7R1 distinguished arsenite with a peacock blue color and arsenate with a pale green color in a DMSO/H2O (9 : 1, v/v) solvent mixture. The specific selectivity for arsenite was achieved in DMSO/H2O (7 : 3, v/v). The sensor demonstrated stability over a pH range of 5 to 12. The computed high binding constant of 9.3176 × 1011 M-2 and a lower detection limit of 11.48 ppb for arsenite exposed the chemosensor's higher potential for arsenite detection. The binding mechanism with a 1 : 2 binding process is confirmed using UV-Vis and 1H NMR titrations, electrochemical studies, mass spectral analysis and DFT calculations. Practical applications were demonstrated by utilizing test strips and molecular logic gates. Chemosensor N7R1 successfully detected arsenite in real water samples, as well as honey and milk samples.

A water-soluble colorimetric chemosensor for sequential probing of Cu2+ and S2- and its practical applications to test strips, reversible test, and water samples

A water-soluble colorimetric chemosensor NHOP ((E)-1-(2-(2-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)hydrazineyl)-2-oxoethyl)pyridin-1-ium) chloride) was developed for the sequential probing of Cu2+ and S2-. NHOP underwent a color change from pale yellow to colorless in the presence of Cu2+ in pure water. The binding ratio between NHOP and Cu2+ was confirmed to be 1:1 by the Job plot and ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry). The detection limit of NHOP for Cu2+ was calculated as 0.15 μM, which was far below the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standard (20 μM). The NHOP-coated test strip was able to easily monitor Cu2+ in real-time. Meanwhile, the NHOP-Cu2+ complex reverted from colorless to pale yellow in the presence of S2- through the demetallation. The stoichiometric ratio between NHOP-Cu2+ and S2- was determined to be 1:1 by analyzing the Job plot and ESI-MS. The detection limit of NHOP-Cu2+ for S2- was calculated as 0.29 μM, which was very below the WHO (World Health Organization) guideline (14.7 μM). NHOP successfully achieved the quantification for Cu2+ and S2- in water samples. NHOP could work as a sequential probe for Cu2+ and S2- at the biological pH range (7.0-8.4). Moreover, NHOP could successively probe Cu2+ and S2- at least three cycles because of its reversible property. The detection mechanisms of NHOP for Cu2+ and NHOP-Cu2+ for S2- were demonstrated with Job plot, ESI-MS, and DFT (density functional theory) calculations. Therefore, NHOP could work as an efficient sequential probe for Cu2+ and S2- in environmental systems.

Selective turn-on fluorescence sensing of Fe2+ in real water samples by chalcones

The design of fluorescence sensor for selective detection of Fe²⁺ is very important as it is part of different biochemical redox system related to a number of diseases. In many occasion sensors are unable to distinguish Fe²⁺ from Fe³⁺ ions. In the present work, we report simple chalcone type sensors for sensing Fe²⁺ ions in semi aqueous system. The receptors R1 and R2 have showed excellent sensing properties at pH 7 in CH₃OH-H₂O (1:1, v/v) solvent system. The fluorescence emission intensity of the complexes between hosts and Fe²⁺ is least affected by the other competitive metal ions leading to the formation of very tight host-guest complex. The LOD for the R1 and R2 for Fe²⁺ are 1.91 μM and 3.54 μM respectively, which is quite low in compared to the many other reported sensors. The practical applicability of these sensors is determined by the detection of Fe²⁺ in real water samples. So chalcones would be cost effective PET inhibited fluorescence sensor for Fe²⁺.

Chalcone-Based Colorimetric Chemosensor for Detecting Ni2+

The first chalcone-based colorimetric chemosensor DPP (sodium (E)-2,4-dichloro-6-(3-oxo-3-(pyridine-2-yl)prop-1-en-1-yl)phenolate) was synthesized for detecting Ni2+ in near-perfect water. The synthesis of DPP was validated by using 1H, 13C NMR and ESI-MS. DPP selectively sensed Ni2+ through the color variation from yellow to purple. Detection limit of DPP for Ni2+ was calculated to be 0.36 μM (3σ/slope), which is below the standard (1.2 μM) set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).The binding ratio of DPP to Ni2+ was determined as a 1:1 by using a Job plot and ESI-mass. The association constant of DPP and Ni2+ was calculated as 1.06 × 104 M−1 by the non-linear fitting analysis. In real samples, the sensing application of DPP for Ni2+ was successfully performed. DPP-coated paper-supported strips could also be used for detecting Ni2+. The binding mechanism of DPP to Ni2+ was proposed by ESI-MS, Job plot, UV-vis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations.

New approach for starch dialdehyde preparation using microwave irradiation for removal of heavy metal ions from water

This work presents a new and simple approach to prepare Dialdehyde Starch (DAS) in one step under microwave irradiations and using, a mild and safer oxidizing agent, potassium iodate. Aldehyde content was evaluated to compare the synthesis results with DAS prepared using potassium periodate as an oxidizing agent for starch. To optimize the synthesis parameters of the new approach, the effect of the quantity of oxidizing agent and the effect of reaction time on the content of aldehyde in DAS were evaluated. According to the results, the optimized time was 10 min at the power of 300 W, and the number of moles of oxidizing agent was 0.014 mol per 2 g of starch. After that, DAS was used to prepare two Schiff bases by reaction with urea (DASU) and thiourea (DASTU), respectively. DAS, DASU and DASTU were characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM. Furthermore, DAS, DASU and DASTU were investigated for removing Cu(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III) ions from water. DAS showed the highest removal efficiency towards Pb(II) ions, whereas DASTU exhibited excellent ability for removing the Hg(II) ions. The removal efficiencies of DAS for Pb(II) ions and DASTU for Hg(II) ions are 95.25% and 89.45%, respectively from aqueous solutions containing 100 ppm of respective ions. Adsorption isotherm study suggests that adsorption follows Langmuir isotherm model, (correlation factors (R2) for Langmuir and Freundlich models for DAS/Pb are equal to 0.984 and 0.799, respectively, and for DASTU/Hg they are 0.995 and 0.813, respectively). The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity for DAS/Pb and DASTU/Hg are 245.09 and 180.83 mg/g, respectively.

A pyridine based Schiff base as a selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for cadmium ions with “turn-on” fluorescence responses

A pyridine based Schiff base probe (PMPA) showed high selectivity and sensitivity towards Cd2+ ions with intense bluish green fluorescence. The sensing mechanism of probe PMPA for detecting Cd2+ was based on the inhibited PET and CHEF processes.