Phenoxazine-based fluorescence chemosensor for selective detection of cyanide

Abstract

Purpose

A highly selective cyanide phenoxazine-based fluorescence chemosensor POH was created to detect cyanide (CN) ions.

Design/methodology/approach

A malonitrile was added to a phenoxazine fluorophore to make this widely available chemosensor. By fluorescence spectroscopy, the sensor POH showed turn-off fluorescence emission for CN with 2:1 binding stoichiometry in CH₃CN/H₂O (90:10 v/v) medium.

Findings

The detection limits for CN were 9.8 × 10⁻⁹ M, which were much lower than WHO standards. NMR and FT-IR investigations backed up the suggested sensor POH mechanism.

Originality/value

The detection CN method should be applicable in a number of situations, where the CN anion for fresh water and drinking water has to be quickly and accurately analyzed.

Graphical abstract

Citation

Al-Ghamdi, H.A. (2024), "Phenoxazine-based fluorescence chemosensor for selective detection of cyanide", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-10-2023-0088