Fecha de publicación: 23/12/2024 Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE ABSTRACT
Selective detection of more than one metal ion contaminant in water using a single fluorescent probe is challenging. In this work, a one-pot synthetic approach is presented to prepare fluorescent poly(aminoamide) microgel, which can detect simultaneously and selectively both Cu2+ and Pb2+ by fluorescent turn off and turn on at pH 7 and 12 respectively. Further, while testing water containing a mixture of both Cu2+ and Pb2+ as contaminants, the microgel can detect the characteristic presence of Cu2+ at pH 7 and Pb2+ at pH 12 via their respective turn-off and on behavior. The mechanistic studies revealed that the dynamic quenching defines the fluorescent turn-off behavior of the microgel in the presence of Cu2+. On the other hand, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is primarily responsible for the fluorescent turn-on of the microgel in the presence of Pb2+. Additionally, applicability of microgels in real life industrial applications are checked by detecting the presence of both analytes in waste water sample collected from a local sewage treatment plant (STP water).