Fluorescence Sensor for the Determination of Boron

T his study reports the preparation and characterization of a new polymeric fluorescence sensor for the determination of boron. The sensor was prepared by the UV-curing of Glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate (GOEM), 1,6-Hexandiol diacrylate (HDDA), hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and 2,2’-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA) was used as the photoinitiator. The features of the sensor performance including sensitivity, response time, pH effect, stability and matrix interferences were studied .  The excitation and emission wavelengths of the fluorescence sensor were 378 and 423 nm, respectively. With the prepared fluorescence sensor, the optimum pH value for the boron solution was determined as pH 6.0, and the optimum analysis time was selected as 45 seconds. The linear response range under the optimized conditions was found to be 9.25 × 10 -7 mol L -1 and 9.25 × 10 -6 mol L -1 . The limit of detection (LOD) was 2.90 × 10 −8  mol L -1 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 9.66 10 −8  mol L -1 (n=7) with 1.2% relative standard deviation. In addition, boron could be selectively detected by the prepared polymeric sensor even in the presence of foreign ions. The prepared sensor was also successfully applied to real environmental water samples.