Synthesis and Fluorescence Sensing Properties of Calix[4]arenes Containing Fluorophores

New fluoroionophores 4 and 5 derived from calix[4]arene triester monoacid chloride with 2-amino-4-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)phenol and 4-aminoquinaldine, respectively, have been synthesized. A preliminary test showed that the fluorescence intensity of 5 was very low, so only 4 was subjected to cation recognition investigation. In methanol, the fluorescence intensity of 4 was quenched by Na⁺. The fluorescence intensity decreased linearly with increasing Na⁺ concentration with a stability constant of log K = 2.91 ± 0.08. No significant response was observed for other alkali metal ions under the same experimental conditions.     

Bulk optode sensors for batch and flow-through determinations of lead ion in water samples

A sensitive optode consisting of highly lead-selective ionophore (Lead IV), proton-selective chromoionophore (ETH 5294) and lipophilic anionic sites (KTpClPB) in plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane was fabricated. The optode membranes were used for determination of Pb²⁺ by absorption spectrophotometry in batch and flow-through systems. The influence parameters such as pH, type of buffer solution, response time and concentration of regenerating solution were optimized. The membrane responded to Pb²⁺ by changing its color from blue to pinkish purple in Tris buffer containing different concentration of Pb²⁺ at pH 7.0. The optode provided the response range of 3.16 × 10⁻⁸ to 5.00 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ Pb²⁺ with the detection limit of 2.49 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ in the batch system within the response time of 30 min. The dynamic range of 1.26 × 10⁻⁸ to 3.16 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ Pb²⁺ with detection limit of 8.97 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ were obtained in the flow-through system within the response time of 15 min. Moreover, the proposed optode sensors showed good selectivity towards Pb²⁺ over Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺. It was successfully applied to determine Pb²⁺ in real water samples and the results were compared with well-established inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). No significant different value (t_critical = 4.30 > t_exp = 1.00-3.42, n = 3 at 95% of confidence level) was found.     

Polymerized Nile Blue derivatives for plasticizer-free fluorescent ion optode microsphere sensors

Lipophilic H⁺-selective fluorophores such as Nile Blue derivatives are widely used in ISE-based pH sensors and bulk optodes, and are commonly dissolved in a plasticized matrix such as PVC. Unfortunately, leaching of the active sensing ingredients and plasticizer from the matrix dictates the lifetime of the sensors and hampers their applications in vivo, especially with miniaturized particle based sensors. We find that classical copolymerization of Nile Blue derivatives containing an acrylic side group gives rise to multiple reaction products with different spectral and H⁺-binding properties, making this approach unsuitable for the development of reliable sensor materials. This limitation was overcome by grafting Nile Blue to a self-plasticized poly(n-butyl acrylate) matrix via an urea or amide linkage between the Nile Blue base structure and the polymer. Optode leaching experiments into methanol confirmed the successful covalent attachment of the two chromoionophores to the polymer matrix. Both polymerized Nile Blue derivatives have satisfactory pH response and appropriate optical properties that are suitable for use in ion-selective electrodes and optodes. Plasticizer-free Na⁺-selective microsphere sensors using the polymerized chromoionophores were fabricated under mild conditions with an in-house sonic microparticle generator for the measurement of sodium activities at physiological pH. The measuring range for sodium was found as 10⁻¹-10⁻⁴ M and 1-10⁻³ M, for Nile Blue derivatives linked via urea and amide functionalities, respectively, at physiological pH. The observed ion-exchange constants of the plasticizer-free microsphere were log K_exch = −5.6 and log K_exch = −6.5 for the same two systems, respectively. Compared with earlier Na⁺-selective bulk optodes, the fabricated optical sensing microbeads reported here have agreeable selectivity patterns, reasonably fast response times, and more appropriate measuring ranges for determination of Na⁺ activity at physiological pH in undiluted blood samples.     

Solvent Extraction of Selenate and Chromate Using a Diaminocalix[4]arene

The extraction of Se(VI) and Cr(VI) using a diammoniumcalix[4]arene was investigated. A study of parameters such as ligand concentration, pH or diluent was carried out and allowed to specify the stoichiometry of the extracted species. It was shown that Se(VI) is extracted into CHCl₃ as (LH₂ ²⁺, Cl^-, HSeO₄ ^-) and ((LH₂ ²⁺)₂, 2Cl^-, SeO₄ ^2-)species at pH 2.6. An increase of pH or an addition of 5% or 10% decanol in CHCl₃ favors the extraction of SeO₄ ^2- over HSeO₄ ^- but leads to a drastic decrease of seleniumextraction. Cr(VI) was shown to be extracted as(LH₂ ²⁺, Cl^-, HCrO₄ ^-) at pH 2.6 and probably as (LH⁺, HCrO₄ ^-) for higher pH.