Designing of efficient two-armed colorimetric and fluorescent indole appended organosilicon sensors for the detection of Al(III) ions: Implication as paper-based sensor

Metal ions have significant roles in diagnosis, industry, human health, and the environment. To design and develop new lucid molecular receptors for the selective detection of metal ions is important for environmental and medical applications. In the present work, two-armed indole appended Schiff bases conjoined with 1,2,3-Triazole bis-organosilane and bis-organosilatrane skelton sensors for naked eye colorimetric and fluorescent detection sensors for Al(III) are developed. The introduction of Al(III) in sensor 4 and 5 show red shift in UV-visible spectra, changes in fluorescence spectra and immediate color change from colorless to dark yellow. Furthermore, the pH and time response studies were explored for both sensors 4 & 5. The sensors 4 and 5 exhibited significantly low detection limit (LOD) in nano-molar range 1.41 × 10-9 M and 0.17 × 10-9 M respectively from emission titration. The LOD form absorption titration was found to be 0.6 × 10-7 M for sensor 4 and 0.22 × 10-7 M for sensor 5. In addition, the sensing model is developed as paper based sensor for its practical applicability. The theoretical calculations were performed on Gaussian 03 program by relaxing the structures using Density functional theory.

N-doped carbon nanomaterials as fluorescent pH and metal ion sensors for imaging

Herein we describe the facile synthesis of new N-doped carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) obtained from 1,10-phenanthroline by the solvothermal method. Characterization of CNPs were carried out with transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), UV-vis absorption spectra, and luminescence spectra. CNPs were pH sensitive and exploited as fluorescent chemosensors and imaging agents for Al(III) and Zn(II) ions in real-life samples. Remarkably, we show that CNPs can be used for the detection of Al(III) and Zn(II) ions in water samples. Accordingly, the results indicate that CNPs are highly effective in detecting Zn(II) content of cosmetic creams. We also demonstrated that the CNPs could be used for in vitro imaging of Al(III) and Zn(II) in Human Larynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Hep-2). Finally, Al(III) imaging in Angelica Officinalis root tissue was also achieved successfully. The CNPs are promising as luminescent multianalyte (pH, Al(III) and Zn(II)) sensors.

Chemically modified flubendazole carbon electrochemical sensor for aluminum determination in food stuff, Multivitamin syrup and real water samples supported by DFT calculations, IR and morphological tools

Aluminum is a key component in nearly nourishment stuffs and medications. It is also found in treated drinking water in the form of reactive species, and aluminum salts are commonly utilized as flocculants in water treatment. Meanwhile, it was not thought to be a dangerous metal for people, but research showed a possible link with Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, autism, and aluminum. Controlling the amount of aluminum in food processing, agriculture, and drinking water is crucial, thus newly synthesized Al(III) ion selective electrode based on innocuous reagent, flubendazole drug, has been developed. The electrode displayed Nernstian slopes of 20.11 0.47 mV decade^-1 at 25 ± 1 °C, covering a wide concentration range of Al(III) from 1 × 10^-7 to 1 × 10^-1 mol L^-1. The response mechanism is studied using IR, computational calculations, morphological tools. The developed sensor has been utilized to accurately measure Al(III) ions in genuine water samples, multivitamin syrup, and food stuff.

Fate of Cr(VI) during aging of ferrihydrite-humic acid co-precipitates: Comparative studies of structurally incorporated Al(III) and Mn(II)

Ferrihydrite-humic acid co-precipitates have impacts on the adsorption and reduction of Cr(VI) in the natural environment. Besides, ferrihydrite-humic acid co-precipitates usually coexist with foreign metal cations like Al(III) and Mn(II), which may change the properties of ferrihydrite and affect the fate of Cr(VI). In this work, structurally incorporated Al(III) or Mn(II) in ferrihydrite-humic acid co-precipitates with Cr(VI) (Fh-HA-Cr-Al or Fh-HA-Cr-Mn) were prepared, and the behavior and phase transformation of co-precipitates were explored via the characterization analyses of samples during aging for 10 days. This study showed that partial adsorbed Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) in the presence of humic acid, thereby reducing the toxicity of Cr(VI). Interestingly, two different results occurred because of the incorporation of Al(III) and Mn(II). Al(III) hindered the transformation of ferrihydrite and changed the aging products by inhibiting the dissolution of ferrihydrite, which decreased Cr to incorporate iron minerals. By contrast, doping of Mn(II) accelerated the phase transformation of co-precipitates, and was more conducive to the encapsulation and fixation of Cr. The results of this study can facilitate the understanding of the effects of Al(III) and Mn(II) on Cr(VI) fixation during the aging of Fh-HA-Cr.

Ratiometric ultrasensitive optical chemisensor film based antibiotic drug for Al(III) and Cu(II) detection

Herein, we developed and designed a novel ratiometric optical chemisensor film for determining Al(III) and Cu(II) in low concentration ranges. The chemisensor film consists of (a) antibacterial drug Ciprofloxacin (CPFX) [1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(piperaziny-l-yl) quinolone-3carboxylic acid] and (b) a reference dye 5,10,15,20- tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin (TFPP) in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix. PVC was applied as a homogeneous system for mixing CPFX and TFPP. The emission intensity of the CPFX in the PVC matrix varies depending on the concentrations of the Al(III) and Cu(II) ions. When the sensor film is immersed in different Al(III) concentrations, a significant fluorescence enhancement of the CPFX at (427 nm) is observed. Furthermore, the fluorescence intensity of the red emission of the TFPP dye at (644 nm) does not alter. However, in the presence of Cu(II) ions, a considerable emission quenching of the CPFX peak at (427 nm) is observed. PVC provides a great permeability and penetration facilities of dissolved ions that make the sensor film sensitive to Al(III) or Cu(II) changes outside the matrix. The film displays immense sensitivity depending on their distinctive optical characteristics of CPFX and detection capabilities within a low detection limit LOD for Al(III) and Cu(II). The LOD values were estimated to be 2.05 x 10^-7 M and 1.04 x 10^-7 M respectively with a relative standard deviation RSD_r (1%, n=3). Density functional theory (DFT) and the time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) theoretical calculations were performed to study Cu(II) and Al(III) complexation structures and their electronic properties in solution and in the sensor film. The interference of the chemisensor film was examined using different cations and the chemisensor provides significant selectivity. We develop a new ratiometric chemisensor based on PVC polymer film for Al(III) and Cu(II) detection.

Highly selective and sensitive chemosensor for Al(III) based on isoquinoline Schiff base

As a colorimetric and fluorescent turn-on sensor to Al³⁺, N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)isoquinoline-3-carbohydrazide (HL) has been easily synthesized. The fluorescence intensity increases by 273 times in the presence of Al³⁺ at 458 nm. Meanwhile, the experiment data indicate that the limit of detection for Al³⁺ is 1.11 × 10^-9 M. Remarkably, the blue fluorescence signal of HL-Al³⁺ could be specially observed by the naked eye under UV light and is significantly different from those of other metal ions. Fluorescence switch based on the control of Al³⁺ and EDTA proved HL could act as a reversible chemosensor. According to ESI-MS result and the Job's plots, the 2:1 coordination complex formed by HL and Al³⁺ could be produced. Density functional theory calculations were performed to illustrate the structures of HL and complex. The cell imaging experiment indicates that HL can be applied for monitoring intracellular Al³⁺ levels in cells.

Highly efficient removal of Cr(III)-poly(acrylic acid) complex by coprecipitation with polyvalent metal ions: Performance, mechanism, and validation

The Cr(III)-organic complexes formed between Cr(III) and multifunctional group ligands, such as polyacrylate, are highly water soluble and difficult to be removed from wastewater by common treatments. A novel strategy for efficiently removing Cr(III)-poly (acrylic acid) complex (Cr(III)-PAA) from wastewater without introducing secondary pollution is proposed using a coprecipitation method with polyvalent metal ions. Al(III), Fe(III), Zr(IV), and Ti(IV) were combined with the carboxyl of Cr(III)-PAA to decrease hydrophilia and achieve fast and efficient coprecipitation. Cr(III)-PAA was efficiently removed from wastewater by using these polyvalent metal ions, especially at low pH, where the ions exist as monomer. The residual concentration of Cr(III) in treated wastewater under the optimized experimental condition was less than 1.0 mg/L. No Cr(VI) and negligible amount of polyvalent metal ions were detected in the treated wastewater, indicating that almost all of the ions coprecipitated with Cr(III)-PAA. No secondary pollution also occurred. The high reactivity between the polyvalent metal ions and Cr(III)-PAA and the sharp decrease in the hydrophilia of the complex contributed to its highly efficient removal from wastewater. Actual tannery wastewater containing Cr(III)-organic complexes with high solubility and stability was treated through coprecipitation with Al(III). A high Cr(III) removal efficiency of 99.0% was obtained. This work provides new insights into the removal of soluble Cr(III)-organic complexes from wastewater by using an environment-friendly and cost-effective method.

Morphology-dependent sensing performance of dihydro-tetrazine functionalized MOF toward Al(III)

A pillared MOF, [Zn(OBA)(H₂DPT)_0.5].DMF (TMU-34), based on dihydro tetrazine functionalized pillar spacer (H₂DPT=3,6-di(pyridin-4-yl)-1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine) and V-shape dicarboxylate linker (H₂OBA=4,4'-oxybis(benzoic acid)) was synthesized by reflux and ultrasonic methods. The effects of sonication time, initial concentration of reagents and sonication power on size and morphology have been optimized. This MOF has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR spectra, X-ray powder diffraction and N₂ adsorption at 77K. Bulk and nano samples of TMU-34 have been applied in cation sensing for detection of Al(III) in presence of other cations (Na(I), Mg(II), Sr(II), Al(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II),Cr(III), Li(I), Fe(III), K(I)). The results show that nano powder of TMU-34 with uniform separated plate-like morphology (TMU-34-F) has higher detection limit and short response time compared to bulk material. So, in this work we show the application of luminescent metal-organic frameworks synthesized by sonochemistry approach in effective cation detection.

Highly sensitive and selective detection of Al(III) ions in aqueous buffered solution with fluorescent peptide-based sensor

A fluorescent sensor based on a tripeptide (SerGluGlu) with a dansyl fluorophore detected selectively Al(III) among 16 metal ions in aqueous buffered solutions without any organic cosolvent. The peptide-based sensor showed a highly sensitive turn on response to aluminium ion with high binding affinity (1.84×10(4)M(-1)) in aqueous buffered solutions. The detection limit (230nM, 5.98ppb) of the peptide-based sensor was much lower than the maximum allowable level (7.41μM) of aluminium ions in drinking water demanded by EPA. The binding mode of the peptide sensor with aluminium ions was characterized using ESI mass spectrometry, NMR titration, and pH titration experiments.

A highly selective colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for Al(III) based-on simple naphthol in aqueous solution

A colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor (L) for Al(III) was synthesized and fully characterized. L could be both used as a colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of Al(3+) ions with low detection limit (8.87×10(-7) M) in CH3CN-H2O (1:1, v/v) solution. The binding ratio of L-Al(3+) was determined from the Job plot (absorption and fluorescence spectra) and MALDI-TOF MS data to be 1:1. The binding constant (Ka) of Al(3+) binding to L was calculated to be 4.8×10(5) M(-1) from a Benesi-Hildebrand plot. Moreover, the binding site of L with Al(3+) was determined by (1)H NMR titration experiment.

Effects of Al(III) and nano-Al13 species on malate dehydrogenase activity

The effects of different aluminum species on malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activity were investigated by monitoring amperometric i-t curves for the oxidation of NADH at low overpotential using a functionalized multi-wall nanotube (MWNT) modified glass carbon electrode (GCE). The results showed that Al(III) and Al₁₃ can activate the enzymatic activity of MDH, and the activation reaches maximum levels as the Al(III) and Al₁₃ concentration increase. Our study also found that the effects of Al(III) and Al₁₃ on the activity of MDH depended on the pH value and aluminum speciation. Electrochemical and circular dichroism spectra methods were applied to study the effects of nano-sized aluminum compounds on biomolecules.