Abstract
In the present study, an attempt was made to develop a proof of concept for the detection of nitroaromatic explosive derivatives through the photoluminescence (PL) quenching process using functionalized diatom frustules as a sensing platform. The diatom frustules are composed of nanostructured, highly porous biogenic silica material and emit strong, visible blue PL upon UV excitation. PL-active biosilica was isolated from the marine diatom Nitzschia sp. and was amine-functionalized to develop a sensing platform. Functionalized diatom frustules were further characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope and a series of spectroscopic methods. When nitroaromatic compounds were bound to the functionalized diatom frustules biosilica, the PL intensity from the functionalized biosilica was partially quenched due to the electrophilic nature of the nitro (–NO) groups. The quenching process confirmed the Meisenheimer complex formation and was investigated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence studies. The developed platform was further evaluated for its sensitivity and specificity, and the limit of detection (LOD) of the assay was determined as 1 μM for a series of nitroaromatic explosive compounds. In conclusion, the developed sensing platform will have great utility in the development of on-site detection platforms for sensitive detection of warfare explosive nitroaromatic compounds from the environment.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the National Centre for Ultrafast Processes, University of Madras, for time-resolved photoluminescence study. We would like to thank Dr. Venkataramana Mudili, Research Scientist, DRDO-BU-Center for Life Science, for his guidance and help. We thank Dr. P. Santhanam, Marine Planktonology & Aquaculture lab, Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India, for providing the diatom sample for this work. The authors also thank DST PURSE & FIST.
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Selvaraj, V., Thomas, N., Anthuvan, A.J. et al. Amine-functionalized diatom frustules: a platform for specific and sensitive detection of nitroaromatic explosive derivative. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 20540–20549 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0916-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0916-z