A rhodamine-based chemosensor and functionalized gel ball for detecting and adsorbing copper ions

Abstract The development of sensitive colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensors for Cu2+ sensing has gained much attention in recent years because of their potential application in clinical biochemistry and environmental studies. Herein, a novel rhodamine-based chemosensor NRG was constructed, which exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity and a quick response for Cu2+, accompanied by remarkable color and fluorescence changes. Moreover, besides sensing Cu2+, NRG can capture Cu2+ effectively and quickly in aqueous solution. Based on the results, NRG-functionalized gel balls were fabricated and exhibited strong adsorbability and a high adsorption capacity for Cu2+, accompanied by an obvious color change. More interestingly, the gel balls can be recycled after treatment with an EDTA solution. These excellent properties make the gel ball a promising candidate for copper ion purification.