Dual optoelectronic visual detection and quantification of spectroscopically silent heavy metal toxins: A multi-measurand sensing strategy based on Rhodamine 6G as chromo or fluoro ionophore

A novel colorimetric chemo-sensor for the simultaneous visual detection and quantification of spectroscopically silent heavy metal toxins viz. cadmium, lead and mercury has been developed. This is based on the proposed sequential ligand exchange (SLE) mechanism of iodide from Pb-I⁻-Rhodamine 6G ion associate with citrate (without affecting ion associates of Cd and Hg) and subsequently from Cd-I⁻-Rhodamine 6G ion associate with EDTA (without affecting Hg-I⁻-Rhodamine 6G). Multi-measurand detection and quantification by colorimetry is possible as the individual toxins gives identical bathochromic shifts in aqueous solution, i.e. from 530 to 575 nm on formation of ternary ion associates in singular, binary and ternary mixtures. The visual detection provides a simple, quick and sensitive detection method in addition to quantification via spectrophotometry with Sandell sensitivities of 1.1, 15 and 2.5 μg dm⁻² for cadmium, lead and mercury, respectively. The developed procedure has been successfully tested for the analysis of environmental (cast alkali, lead acid battery and zinc manufacturing industry effluents) samples. Furthermore, the multi-measurand quantification of the above-mentioned heavy metal toxins based on fluorescence quenching and use of Pyronine G as chromo-ionophore instead of Rhodamine 6G is also described.     

Dimesitylborylphenyl substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole:Synthesis,characterization and sensitivity to F~-

A new 1,3,4-oxadiazole compound with a dimesitylboryl group was synthesized and characterized by ~1H NMR,MS,element analysis and X-ray single-crystal diffraction.It exhibits good blue emission at 425 nm and high sensitivity to fluoride anion.     

A direct fluorescence-on chemo-sensor for selective recognition of Zn(II) by a lower rim 1,3-di-derivative of calix[4]arene possessing bis-{N-(2-hydroxynaphthyl-1-methylimine)} pendants

The bis-{N-(2-hydroxynaphthyl-1-methylimine)} anchored 1,3-di-derivative of lower rim p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene possessing a N₂O₂, N₂O₄ or N₂O₆ binding core was found to be selective for Zn(II) ions even at ?60 ppb by eliciting fluorescence-on behaviour while the other ions, viz., Ti⁴⁺, VO²⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ caused no change in the fluorescence. The reaction between 1 and Zn²⁺ was found to be stoichiometric with the formation of a 1:1 complex; while H⁺ quenched the fluorescence of the complex, OH⁻ restored it. The studies of the 1:1 isolated complexes of Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ augmented the results.     

Interaction of a Schiff-base fluorescent sensor with Al3+: experimental and computational studies

A fluorescent Al³⁺ chemo-sensor, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-hydroxypyrazole-4-acetone-(3′,4′-dimethylpyrrole-2′-formyl) hydrazone (L), has been synthesized and characterized. L can detect Al³⁺ in ethanol solution with a significant fluorescence enhancement of a turn-on ratio over 155-fold due to the formation of a 1?:?1 complex which is based on the molar ratio between L and Al³⁺ ions, and the 1?:?1 stoichiometric complexation can be obtained from density functional theory calculations. No significant interference of other metal ions such as Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Pb²⁺, and Ag⁺ was found. The detection limit for Al³⁺ was 5?×?10^?9?M in ethanol.