A perylene-based fluorescent probe for highly efficient SDS detection

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is widely used in numerous household products and pharmaceuticals due to its excellent water solubility, emulsification, foaming, and dispersing properties. However, the extensive use of SDS has made it a significant environmental pollutant, posing a great threat to aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, developing a rapid, efficient, and sensitive probe for detecting SDS in aqueous environments is crucial. In this study, we present a cationic imidazolium-conjugated perylene bisimide (PBI) compound, as an effective probe for detecting SDS in aqueous media. The probe exhibits a distinct color change from dark pink to light pink upon interaction with SDS, making it a simple yet powerful tool for naked-eye detection. Moreover, the strong electrostatic interaction between the positively charged PBI compound and the negatively charged sulfate group in SDS leads to the formation of closely packed molecular aggregates. This results in significant quenching of fluorescence emission, enabling the detection of SDS at micromolar concentrations. We further demonstrate the practical application of PBI compound for sensitive and selective fluorometric detection of SDS in home-care items and tap water samples. These findings highlight the potential of such compounds as versatile tools for both environmental monitoring and product safety applications involving sulfate-containing species.