Fluorimetric Reusable Polymeric Sensor for Hydrogen Sulfide Detection

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a critical analyte with implications in environmental monitoring and biological processes.
• Existing H2S detection methods often face limitations in sensitivity, selectivity, or reusability.
• Development of advanced sensing materials is crucial for accurate and efficient H2S quantification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel H2S-sensitive fluorescent polymer sensor.
• To optimize the sensor's performance for H2S detection under specific conditions.
• To evaluate the sensor's sensitivity, selectivity, and reusability for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Polymerization of reactive monomers, crosslinkers, and photoinitiator under UV light.
• Characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
• Optimization of pH and reaction time; determination of excitation/emission wavelengths and analytical performance.

Main Results:

• A polymeric membrane-based fluorescent sensor was successfully developed.
• Optimal detection conditions were identified at pH 8.0 with a 15s reaction time.
• The sensor exhibited a wide linear range (2.19 × 10⁻⁸–6.25 × 10⁻⁷ M) and a low detection limit (7.37 × 10⁻⁹ M).
• Excellent selectivity and reusability (≥100 cycles) were demonstrated, with high recovery rates in tap water samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed fluorimetric sensor provides a sensitive, selective, and reusable method for H2S detection.
• Its advantages in reliability, speed, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use make it a promising alternative to standard H2S analysis techniques.