A simple chemosensor for the dual-channel detection of cyanide in water with high selectivity and sensitivity

We have synthesized a simple chemosensor (HY) of acylhydrazones and used it for colorimetric detection of cyanide anions (CN^-) in DMSO/H₂O (3:7, v/v) mixed solvent. The simple chemosensor displays a specificity response for cyanide over other common anions (F^-, Cl^-, Br^-, I^-, AcO^-, H₂PO₄^-, HSO₄^-, ClO₄^-, and SCN^-) in mixed solution. Upon treatment with cyanide, HY displayed a remarkable naked-eye and fluorogenic response, simultaneously with significant changes in its UV-visible and fluorescence spectra. Furthermore, competitive anions did not show any significant changes both in colour and emission intensity, indicating the high selectivity of the sensor to CN^-. The absorption spectra detection limit of the chemosensor for cyanide was 8.34 × 10^-7 M and the fluorescence spectra detection limit was 2.85 × 10^-8 M. The cyanide test strips based on the chemosensor could serve as a convenient cyanide test kit. Furthermore, the chemosensor was successfully applied to the detection of cyanide in sprouting potatoes.