A simple chemosensor for the dual-channel detection of cyanide in water with high selectivity and sensitivity

Abstract

We have synthesized a simple chemosensor (HY) of acylhydrazones and used it for colorimetric detection of cyanide anions (CN⁻) in DMSO/H₂O (3 : 7, v/v) mixed solvent. The simple chemosensor displays a specificity response for cyanide over other common anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, AcO⁻, H₂PO₄⁻, HSO₄⁻, ClO₄⁻, and SCN⁻) in mixed solution. Upon treatment with cyanide, HY displayed a remarkable naked-eye and fluorogenic response, simultaneously with significant changes in its UV-visible and fluorescence spectra. Furthermore, competitive anions did not show any significant changes both in colour and emission intensity, indicating the high selectivity of the sensor to CN⁻. The absorption spectra detection limit of the chemosensor for cyanide was 8.34 × 10⁻⁷ M and the fluorescence spectra detection limit was 2.85 × 10⁻⁸ M. The cyanide test strips based on the chemosensor could serve as a convenient cyanide test kit. Furthermore, the chemosensor was successfully applied to the detection of cyanide in sprouting potatoes.