Selective and sensitive detection of picric acid in aqueous, sol-gel and solid support media by Ln(III) probes

The luminescent lanthanide complexes EuL, TbL and its polymeric compounds EuL@PVA & TbL@PVA (where PVA = polyvinylalcohol) were synthesised. The complexes are soluble in water and depict their metal centred luminescence. The luminescent properties are meticulously monitored for sensing various nitro compounds in aqueous, polymeric, solid support and found to be highly selective for picric acid (PA). Remarkably, the minimum detection limit of PA is falling in micro molar (M) concentration (i.e., D-lim=0.5 mu M) exhibits a strong quenching constant (K-sv = 85530 M-1) in aqueous medium. Further the detection of PA in micromolar level is demonstrated in sol-gel type polymeric medium and on solid support via contact mode using Whatman paper strips. Time dependant quenching of luminescence of PA on paper strips were also investigated by naked eye detection for its user friendly application. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.