Bio-polymer starch thin film sensors for low concentration detection of cyanide anions in water

Starch films containing a chemodosimeter probe based on a quinolinium merocyanine dye were successfully prepared and studied. Through the selective nucleophilic addition reaction between cyanide anions and the dye chromophore the film can selectively detect sub-micromolar quantities of cyanide ion by a distinct color change.

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► New cyanide chemosensor based on quinolinium merocyanine was synthesized.
► The new cyanide chemosensor was incorporated into starch film by a sol–gel reaction.
► Chemosensor/starch film can detect cyanide (down to 0.165 μM) selectively in water.