The environmental-sensitivity of a fluorescent ZTRS–Cd(ii) complex was applied to discriminate different types of surfactants and determine their CMC values.

We have, for the first time, reported a fluorescent probe (ZTRS–C₁₈–Cd(ii) complex) which discriminated four types of surfactants. This recognition was realized depending on the transformation of ZTRS–Cd²⁺ binding patterns in different microenvironments formed in various types of surfactants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]