Facile synthesis of a water-soluble fluorescence sensor for Al3+ in aqueous solution and on paper substrate

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy, 2017-02, Vol.173, p.625-629
• Main Authors: Liu, Tianqi, Wan, Xuejuan, Dong, Yunsheng, Li, Weibin, Wu, Lisi, Pei, Hang, Yao, Youwei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Al3; Fluorescence sensor; One-step reaction; Paper substrate; Water-soluble
• ISSN: 1386-1425
• DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2016.10.004

In this study, a facile water-soluble fluorescence sensor 2-((2-hydroxybenzylidene)-amino)-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol (ST) was synthesized via one-step reaction, and its fluorescence sensing performance for Al3+ both in aqueous solution and on paper substrate was evaluated. The results showed that ST exhibited an specific fluorescence “turn-on” response to Al3+ over other cations in aqueous solution as well as on the test paper. The limit of detection was found to be 3.2×10−7M, which revealed that the obtained Schiff-base based fluorescence chemosensor ST possessed a great potential for the rapid, quantitative and qualitative detection of Al3+. [Display omitted] •The sensor was synthesized in one-step procedure and yield was 85%.•Detection process was conducted in 100% aqueous solution.•No disturbances from typical competitive ions such as Fe3+, Cr3+ were founded in the detection process.•Detection limit for Al3+ is 3.2×10−7M.•Detection for Al3+ in aqueous solution and on paper substrate was evaluated.