A novel imidazole derived colorimetric and fluorometric chemosensor for bifunctional detection of copper (II) and sulphide ions in environmental water samples

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy, 2020-03, Vol.228, p.117846, Article 117846
• Main Authors: Mahnashi, Mater H., Mahmoud, Ashraf M., Alkahtani, Saad A., Ali, Ramadan, El-Wekil, Mohamed M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Colorimetric chemosensor; Cu2+ ions; Environmental water samples; Fluorometric chemosensor; S2− ions
• ISSN: 1386-1425
• DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2019.117846

Herein, a novel “ON-OFF” colorimetric and fluorometric chemosensor; 1N-allyl-2-(2, 5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4, 5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole (ADPPI), was constructed for sequential determination of Cu2+ and S2− ions in aqueous media. The interaction between chemosensor ADPPI and different metal cations was investigated using UV-VIS and fluorimetric spectroscopy. ADPPI showed a favorable and good interaction with Cu2+ ions producing blue colored solution peaked at 610 nm with blue fluorescence at λem. = 447 nm. The produced complex between Cu2+ ions and ADPPI can be used as a cascade probe for detection of S2− ions. The detection limits (LODs) were 1.01 nM and 1.25 μM for Cu2+ and S2− ions, respectively (the lowest between the family of colorimetric and fluorometric chemosensors). To further increase the applicability of the proposed method, Cu2+ and S2− ions concentrations were measured in environmental water samples. [Display omitted] •An imidazole derived colorimetric and fluorometric chemosensor has been developed for rapid detection of Cu2+ and S2-.•The chemosensor exhibited binding-induced color changes from colorless to blue.•The formed L-Cu2+ complex has been used as a new cascade sensor for detecting S2-.•The chemosensor shows good sensitivity and selectivity.•The method was applied efficiently for analysis of Cu2+ and S2- in environmental water samples with high selectivity.