A novel and efficient colorimetric chemosensor for detection and determination of biologically important ions in DMSO/H2O media using bromo pyrogallol red chemosensors with analytical applications

An efficient colorimetric chemosensor with bromo pyrogallol red (BPR) as an easily available dye demonstrated a high chromogenic selectivity for Fe3+ over other cations with detection limit of 5.1 μmol L−1. The complex of Fe3+ with BPR displayed ability to detect of up to 4.4 and 25.6 μmol L−1 for acetate (AcO−) and benzoate ions (BzO−) in DMSO/H2O (9:1 v/v) media respectively over a large number of other anions. Both processes proceeded with distinct visual color changes in DMSO/H2O (9:1 v/v). The linear dynamic ranges for the determinations of Fe3+, AcO− and BzO− were 2.5–24.0, 2.5–20.5 and 28.0–42.0 μg mL−1 respectively. This chemosensor was successfully applied for the determination of Fe3+ and of carboxylate anions in environmental samples. This is the first article of a chemosensor capable of detecting both Fe3+ and anions (AcO− and BzO−) using single detection method in a single cell.

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► New chromogenic receptor for the detection of biologically important cation and anions.
► The first receptor for detection of Fe3+, AcO− and BzO− through the same detection method.
► High selective and sensitive ‘naked-eye’ sensing of biologically ions in aqueous medium.
► BPR is available commercially in excellent purity.