A simple approach based on transmetalation for the selective and sensitive colorimetric/fluorometric detection of copper(ii) ions in drinking water

The search for feasible and efficient methods for sensing cations in the environment is a challenge of current scientific interest. Among the colorimetric and fluorometric methods, those that enable the direct and rapid detection of the analytes are highly desirable. Here a simple approach based on the transmetalation of a Zn(ii) Schiff-base complex for the selective and sensitive colorimetric and fluorometric detection of Cu2+ ions in aqueous solution is reported. This method offers the advantages of being direct, fast, and not requiring any treatment of the sample. A detection limit down to 0.60 μM is obtained from the spectrophotometric data. The method is demonstrated to be efficient for the quantitation of Cu2+ ions in drinking water.