Optical fibre sensor for hydrogen sulphide monitoring in mouth air

A reversible optical fibre chemical sensor for hydrogen sulphide monitoring in mouth air based on reflectance measurements has been developed. The active sensing phase has been prepared by immobilising the colorimetric reagent 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPI) in a silica gel support. The principle of the determination is based on the increase of reflectance of such solid sensing phase when hydrogen sulphide reduces the colorimetric reagent with the subsequent decolouration process. The addition of 1.26 μg of Cu(II) per gram of solid support improved the response time and reversibility of the sensing phase.The detection limit is 10 ppb (v/v) of hydrogen sulphide. The linear range using the Kubelka-Munk function extends at least up to 1000 ppb (v/v). The sensor exhibits a response time of less than 2 min for hydrogen sulphide concentrations in the linear range and the signal is reversible.The optical sensor has been successfully tested for human malodour monitoring and the results validated by comparison with those obtained for the same individuals using a commercially available electrochemical instrument.     

Characterization of an electrochemical mercury sensor using alternating current,cyclic, square wave and differential pulse voltammetry

Here we report the characterization of an electrochemical mercury (Hg²⁺) sensor constructed with a methylene blue (MB)-modified and thymine-containing linear DNA probe. Similar to the linear probe electrochemical DNA sensor, the resultant sensor behaved as a “signal-off” sensor in alternating current voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. However, depending on the applied frequency or pulse width, the sensor can behave as either a “signal-off” or “signal-on” sensor in square wave voltammetry (SWV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). In SWV, the sensor showed “signal-on” behavior at low frequencies and “signal-off” behavior at high frequencies. In DPV, the sensor showed “signal-off” behavior at short pulse widths and “signal-on” behavior at long pulse widths. Independent of the sensor interrogation technique, the limit of detection was found to be 10 nM, with a linear dynamic range between 10 nM and 500 nM. In addition, the sensor responded to Hg²⁺ rather rapidly; majority of the signal change occurred in <20 min. Overall, the sensor retains all the characteristics of this class of sensors; it is reagentless, reusable, sensitive, specific and selective. This study also highlights the feasibility of using a MB-modified probe for real-time sensing of Hg²⁺, which has not been previously reported. More importantly, the observed “switching” behavior in SWV and DPV is potentially generalizable and should be applicable to most sensors in this class of dynamics-based electrochemical biosensors.     

New Stationary Phase Prepared by Immobilization of a Copper-Amine Complex on Silica and Its Use for High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Chromatographic silica (10 μm) was chemically modified with the silylating agent: [3-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyl]trimethoxysilane (AEAPTS). The reaction product was characterized by elemental analysis and infrared and ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR spectra. The chemically modified silica was treated with Cu(II) in methanol medium. This cation was strongly adsorbed through complexation by the pendant ethylenediamine groups attached to the silica surface. The complex formed on the silica surface was shown to be stable in both aqueous and non-aqueous media. The aim of Cu(II) immobilization is to use this new material as a stationary phase in High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Separations of synthetic mixtures of aromatic amines and of polyaromatic hydrocarbons were undertaken using 150×3.9 mm HPLC columns packed with the modified silica, with and without copper ions, to follow the influence of the cation on the chromatographic separation and to verify the efficiency of the new stationary phase for HPLC.     

Copper(II)-selective fluorimetric bulk optode membrane based on a 1-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone derivative having two propenyl arms as a neutral fluorogenic ionophore

A new optical chemical sensor has been developed for the selective determination of copper(II) ions in aqueous solutions. The reversible sensing system was prepared by incorporating 1-hydrpxy-2-(prop-2'-enyl)-4-(prop-2'-enyloxy)-9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) as a neutral Cu2+-selective fluoroionophore in the plasticized PVC membrane with potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl borate) as an anionic additive. The response of the sensor is based on the fluorescence quenching of AQ by Cu2+ ions. At a pH 5.5, the proposed sensor displays a calibration response for Cu2+ over a wide concentration rang of 1.0 x 10(-2) to 1.0 x 10(-6) M, with a relatively fast response of less than 40 s. In addition to high stability and reproducibility, the sensor shows a unique selectivity towards Cu2+ ion with respect to common co-existing cations. The proposed fluorescence optode was applied successfully to the determination of copper(II) in black tea samples.     

Novel colorimetric sensor for oral malodour

Volatile sulphur compounds are the primary constituents of oral malodour. Quantitative tools for the detection of oral malodour are beneficial to evaluate the intensity of malodour, analyse its causes and monitor the effectiveness of customized treatments. We have developed an objective, cost effective, do-it-yourself colorimetric sensor for oral malodour quantification. The sensor consisted of a sensing solution, a gas sampling unit for collecting a known volume of mouth air and a photometric detector. The sensing solution was iodine and the depletion of iodine on reaction with hydrogen sulphide was detected colorimetrically using starch. The detection limit of the sensor is 0.05 μg L⁻¹ of hydrogen sulphide, which is fit-for-purpose for oral malodour detection in healthy subjects as well as halitosis patients. Volatile sulphur compounds in mouth air were quantified in healthy human volunteers using this portable sensor and the detected levels were in the range of 0.2-0.4 μg L⁻¹. There was a good correlation between the VSC levels detected by the colorimetric sensor and halimeter (R² = 0.934). The developed sensor can be easily fabricated in the laboratory, and it shows high potential to be used as a clinical evaluation tool for oral malodour assessments.     

Easy to optimize: dynamic combinatorial libraries of metal-dye complexes as flexible sensors for tripeptides

A dynamic combinatorial library (DCL) of dye complexes of Cu2+ and Ni2+ was used to sense the sequence isomeric tripeptides His-Gly-Gly, Gly-His-Gly, and Gly-Gly-His. The DCL sensor was obtained by mixing buffered aqueous solution of three commercially available dyes together with CuCl2 and NiCl2. The addition of the peptide analytes resulted in characteristic changes in the UV-vis spectrum of the mixture, which allowed the identification of the peptide. Due to the modular nature of the sensor, it was possible to optimize the sensor by variation of the amounts and ratio of its constituent building blocks. The composition of the best sensor was found to vary substantially, depending on the sensing problem to be addressed. Whereas a Cu2+/Ni2+ ratio of 1:3 gave the best differentiation for Gly-His-Gly and Gly-Gly-His, a sensor containing exclusively Cu2+ was found to provide the best discrimination between His-Gly-Gly and Gly-Gly-His.     

Optical sensing systems for microfluidic devices: a review

This review deals with the application of optical sensing systems for microfluidic devices. In the “off-chip approach” macro-scale optical infrastructure is coupled, while the “on-chip approach” comprises the integration of micro-optical functions into microfluidic devices. The current progress of the use of both optical sensing approaches in microfluidic devices, as well as its applications is described. In all cases, sensor size and shape profoundly affect the detection limits, due to analyte transport limitation, not to signal transduction limitation. The micro- or nanoscale sensors are limited to picomolar-order detection for practical time scales. The review concludes with an assessment of future directions of optical sensing systems for integrated microfluidic devices.     

Novel PVC-based copper(II) membrane sensor based on 2-(1'-(4'-(1'-hydroxy-2'-naphthyl)methyleneamino)butyl iminomethyl)-1-naphthol.

A copper(II) ion-selective PVC membrane sensor based on 2-(1'-(4'-(1'-hydroxy-2'-naphthyl)methyleneamino)butyl iminomethyl)-1-naphthol (BHNB) as a novel Schiff base containing a sensing material has been successfully developed. The sensor exhibits a good linear response of 29 mV per decade within the concentration range of 10(-1)-10(-6) M of Cu2+. The sensor shows good selectivity for copper(II) ion in comparison with alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The BHNB-based sensor is suitable for use with aqueous solutions of pH 3.5-7.0 and displays minimal interference by Sr(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II), which are known to interfere with other previously suggested electrodes. The proposed membrane electrode was used as a sensor for determining the Cu(II) content in black tea samples. It was also applied as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Cu2+ ions with EDTA.     

Preconcentration and Determination of Copper(II) by Novel Solid-Phase Extraction and High-Resolution Continuum Source Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Amberlite XAD-4 modified with N-para-anisidine-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldimine was investigated as a new chealting sorbent for the selective separation and preconcentration of Cu(II). The metal ion was retained by chemical sorption on the modified resin, eluted by hydrochloric acid, and determined by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The prepared resin was characterized for the solid-phase extraction of Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ in a column. The influence of the pH, the mass of solid phase, eluent, flow rate, and sample volume was optimized. Using the optimum conditions, only Cu(II) showed quantitative sorption at the 95% confidence level, and the recoveries of the other metal ions were below 80%. A preconcentration factor 125 was obtained for Cu(II) with a limit of detection of 0.56?µg?L^?1. The method was used for the determination of Cu(II) in tap water, river water, tomato leaves, and fish. The relative standard deviation and the relative error were lower than 7%.     

Direct TLC Resolution of the Enantiomers of Three β-Blockers by Ligand Exchange with Cu(II)–l-Amino Acid Complex, Using Four Different Approaches

TLC experiments have been performed to resolve the enantiomers of three β-blockers by complexation chiral TLC with Cu(II) cation and five l amino acids. Loading was carried out by using the Cu(II)–l amino acid complex as chiral mobile phase additive with untreated silica gel plates; by mixing the Cu complex with silica gel before preparing the TLC plates; by ascending development of untreated plates with solutions of the Cu complex; and by using a solution of Cu(II) acetate as mobile phase additive for plates prepared by mixing the l amino acid with silica gel. Spots were located by use of iodine vapour.     

Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles: A low-temperature trypsin-assisted preparation and Fe sensing

In recent years, extensive researches are focused on the fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) due to their excellent photochemical, biocompatible and water-soluble properties. However, these synthesis methods are generally suffered from tedious processes. In this paper, fluorescent carbon nanoparticles are synthesized by a facile, one-pot, low-temperature method with trypsin and dopamine as precursors. The synthesis process avoids any heating operation and organic solvent, which provides a “green” and effective preparation route. The obtained CNPs exhibit excellent water-solubility, salt-tolerance and photostability. Based on the synergistic action of the inner filter effect and static quenching mechanism, the CNPs are exploited as a “turn-off” fluorescence sensor for sensitive and selective detection of Fe³⁺ ions. The probe shows a wide linear range from 0.1 to 500 μM, with a limit of detection of 30 nM. Furthermore, the as-fabricated fluorescent sensing system is successfully applied to the analysis of Fe³⁺ in biological samples such as human urine and serum samples with satisfactory recoveries (92.8–113.3%).     

HPLC retention behavior of poly-aromatic-hydrocarbons on aminopropyl silica gels modified with Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-phthalocyanine derivatives in non-polar eluent

A comparative study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism underlying the separation of poly-aromatic-hydrocarbons (PAHs) and related compounds thereof on a column packed with silica gels modified with Ni(II)- or Cu(II)-phthalocyanine derivatives (PCS) (Ni- or Cu-PCS(D) column) and commercially available PYE and NPE columns with a non-polar eluent, such as n-hexane. It has been revealed that the dominant interaction responsible to the separation of PAHs on the Cu-PCS(D) and the PYE columns with n-hexane is the pi-pi interaction; however, in the separation of PAHs having 4 rings such as pyrene on the Ni-PCS(D) column, participation of pi-d interaction was indicated. The predominant role of pi-pi interaction in the separation of PAHs of less than three rings on the Ni-PCS(D) column was demonstrated using anthracene. All the columns possessed planar recognition ability and were estimated to be potentially useful in the separation and the analysis of PAHs.     

Silica nanoparticles for fluorescence sensing of Zn(II): exploring the covalent strategy

Silica nanoparticles (about 15 nm diameters), which contain a derivative of 6-methoxy-8-(p-toluensulfonamido)-quinoline (TSQ) as a Zn(II) fluorescent probe covalently linked to the silica network, were prepared and studied as Zn(II) fluorescent chemosensors. The systems selectively detect Zn(II) ions in water rich solutions with a submicromolar sensitivity: 0.13 microM concentrations of Zn(II) can be measured with the only interference of Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions. Compared with free TSQ, the nanoparticles based systems have the advantage that they can be employed in aqueous solutions without aggregation problems while at the same time, they maintain a similar Zn(II) affinity and sensing ability. Addition of a second, substrate insensitive, fluorophore to the particles leads to the realization of a ratiometric sensor.     

Solid phase extraction of trace metals in water and leafy vegetables using a resin functionalized with potassium 2-benzoylhydrazinecarbodithioate and determination by ICP–AES

A solid phase extraction method for the determination of Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) metal ions in natural water and leafy vegetable samples by ICP-AES was developed. The method was based on the sorption of metal ions onto Amberlite XAD-16 functionalized with a new chelating ligand potassium 2-benzoylhydrazinecarbodithioate (Amberlite XAD-16-PBHCD) and elution with nitric acid. The optimum experimental conditions for the quantitative sorption of the three metal ions, namely, effect of pH, sample volume, flow rate, concentration of eluent, sorption capacity, kinetics of sorption, and the effect of diverse ions on the sorption of analytes have been investigated. All the metal ions were quantitatively retained by the functionalized resin at pH 5.0 and sorbed metals could be eluted with 2.0?M HNO₃. The detection limits were 5.6, 4.5 and 1.8?µg?L^?1 for Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II), respectively. The developed method was applied for the determination of Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) in water and leafy vegetable samples.     

Fabrication of an optical sensor based on the immobilization of Qsal on the plasticized PVC membrane for the determination of copper(II)

A novel optical sensor has been proposed for sensitive determination of Cu(II) ion in aqueous solutions. The copper sensing membrane was prepared by incorporating Qsal (2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-anthra[2,1-d]imidazole-6,11-dione) as ionophore in the plasticized PVC membrane containing tributyl phosphate (TBP) as plasticizer. The membrane responds to Cu(II) ion by changing color reversibly from yellow to dark red in acetate buffer solution at pH 4.0. The proposed sensor displays a linear range of 6.3 × 10^?7?1.00 × 10^?4 M with a limit of detection of 3.3 × 10^?7 M. The response time of the optical sensor was about 3?C5 min, depending on the concentration of Cu(II) ions. The selectivity of the optical sensor to Cu(II) ions in acetate buffer is good. The sensor can readily be regenerated by hydrochloric acid (0.1 M). The optical sensor is fully reversible. The proposed optical sensor was applied to the determination of Cu(II) in environmental water samples.     

Calibration of Phen Green for use as a Cu(I)-selective fluorescent indicator

Conditional stability constants for the Cu-sensitive fluorescent dye Phen Green™ SK (PGSK) were determined for complexes containing both Cu(I) and Cu(II). Experimental conditions were optimized to minimize oxidation of Cu(I) to Cu(II). A binding constant of 10^11.38 for PGSK and Cu(I) was determined using chloride as the competing ligand and an iterative procedure involving equilibrium calculations to fit experimental data. The new constant was tested by evaluating PGSK fluorescence in the presence of the strong Cu(I)-ligand neocuproine and thiourea. There was good agreement between experimental data and changes in fluorescence predicted by calculations using the new constant and published constants for the competing ligands. Using EDTA to buffer the free ion concentration of Cu²⁺, the conditional stability constant of PGSK with Cu(II) was measured to be 10^9.8. Both of these new constants are significantly higher than previously published values. Finally PGSK was used to examine the kinetics of Cu(I) dissociation from the biologically important ligand glutathione.     

Highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for mercury ion based on photoinduced charge transfer between fluorophore and π-stacked T-Hg(II)-T base pairs

A novel and simple oligodeoxyribonucleotide-based sensor with single fluorophore-labeled for mercury ion sensing was reported. An oligodeoxyribonucleotide poly(dT) was labeled with fluorescein as donor. Based on the specific binding of Hg(II) to T-T mismatch base pairs, the formation of π-stacked [T-Hg(II)-T] with “sandwich” structure on the addition of Hg(II) ions facilitates the electron transfer via photoinduced charge transfer (PCT), which creates an additional nonradiative decay channel for excited fluorophore and triggers the fluorescence to be quenched. The π-stacked [T-Hg(II)-T] functioned not only as mercury ion recognition but also as an electron acceptor to quench the donor. A linear relationship was observed over the range of 0-1.0 μM with the detection limit of 20 nM for mercury ions. The fluorescence quenching phenomenon and quenching mechanism, reliability and selectivity of the system were investigated in detail.     

Simultaneous determination of copper, mercury and zinc in water with a tailored fluorescent bipyridine ligand entrapped in silica sol-gel

A novel fluorescent ligand, (4-[(E)-2-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)vinyl]phenol) (abbreviated BSOH), has been designed and prepared for simultaneous determination of heavy metals in water. Its photophysical and photochemical properties in the absence and in the presence of Cd(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) were determined, and the respective complexation constants (7.4 × 10(3)-2.8 × 10(8) l mol(-1)) and stoichiometries were extracted thereof. The Stern-Volmer emission intensity and lifetime plots indicate an efficient static quenching of the indicator dye with the heavy metals. The BSOH fluorescent reagent has been successfully immobilised in a silica sol-gel matrix for automation of the analytical method, and the sensing phase demonstrated a reversible response to Cu(II), Hg(II) and Zn(II) but not to Cd(II) and Ni(II). Characterisation of the sensor showed that its response to those heavy metals is linear in the 2.5 to 50 μmol l(-1) range, with a response time (t (90)) on the order of 100 min, providing detection limits of 9.0 × 10(-7), 4.7 × 10(-7) and 2.9 × 10(-7) mol l (-1) for Zn(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II), respectively. Due to the stability of the immobilised ligand, which presented no leaching from the sol-gel matrix, the simultaneous determination of the three cations in water was feasible by employing multivariate calibration techniques coupled to fluorescence quenching measurements. The sensor was validated with recovery tests by addition of Cu(II) and Hg(II) ions to spring waters, providing results with standard errors lower than 4.1 μmol l (-1).     

Chemically modified silica gel with aminothioamidoanthraquinone for solid phase extraction and preconcentration of Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II)

Silica gel chemically bonded with aminothioamidoanthraquinone was synthesized and characterized. The metal sorption properties of modified silica were studied towards Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II). The determination of metal ions was carried out on FAAS. For batch method, the optimum pH ranges for Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) extraction were ≥3 but for Ni(II) and Co(II) extraction were ≥4. The contact times to reach the equilibrium were less than 10 min. The adsorption isotherm fitted the Langmuir's model showed the maximum sorption capacities of 0.56, 0.30, 0.15, 0.12 and 0.067 mmol/g for Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II), respectively. In the flow system, a column packed modified silica at 20 mg for Pb(II) and Cu(II), 50 mg for Cd(II), 60 mg for Co(II), Ni(II) was studied at a flow rate of 4 and 2.5 mL/min for Ni(II). The sorbed metals were quantitatively eluted by 1% HNO₃. No interference from Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻ at 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L was observed. The application of this modified silica gel to preconcentration of pond water, tap water and drinking water gave high accuracy and precision (%R.S.D. ≤ 9). The method detection limits were 22.5, 1.0, 2.9, 0.95, 1.1 μg/L for Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II), respectively.     

3D Nano‐structure L‐cysteine/AuNPs/Bi2O3 Modified Glass Carbon Electrode as Chemical Sensor for Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection Cu (II)

It was first time using the l‐cysteine self‐assembled on the surface of gold nanoparticles and Bi₂O₃ nano‐structured materials modified GCE composed l‐cysteine/AuNPs/Bi₂O₃/GCE sensor. The sensor possessed three‐dimensional nanostructure and exhibited a higher ratio of activity sites, large active surface, fast electron transfer rate, excellent catalytic, sensing characteristics and larger affinity to Cu (II). The sensor was determined to have an excellent sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of Cu (II). The characterization of sensor as well as the optimization of the analytical procedure was reported. The optimized conditions parameters allowed the detection of Cu (II) concentration following short analysis time, a detection limit of 5×10^?11 M at 80 s of preconcentration time was obtained using the as‐prepared sensor, and also show excellent stability and good repeatability, and, thus, could be used for detection of Cu (II) in environment.