Highly Selective and Sensitive Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensor for Rapid Detection of Ag, Cu and Hg Based on a Simple Schiff Base.

A new reversible colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor MMIP based on a simple Schiff base has been successfully synthesized. MMIP exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity towards Ag, Cu and Hg ions with a short response time in DMSO/HO (1/1, v/v) solution among various metal ions, and the results could be monitored directly by naked eyes. The binding stoichiometry between MMIP and Ag/Hg/Cu has been determined to be 1:2 by Job's plot and FT-IR analysis. MMIP could effectively detect Ag, Cu and Hg over a wide pH range of 3-10. The good linear correlations were obtained in the concentration ranges of 0-20 μM for Ag, Cu and Hg. Thus sensor MMIP could be potentially used for the quantification of Ag, Cu and Hg in aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]