Assessing the pollution level of a subtropical lake by using a novel hydrogen sulfide fluorescence technology

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important environmental toxin with bi-directional biological effects on organisms. In natural waters, H2S complexes with heavy metal ions in an anaerobic environment influence heavy metals' bioavailability and induce phosphorus release and eutrophication in water columns. Traditional detection techniques, such as colorimetric, electrochemical, and chromatographic, cannot simultaneously detect H2S and pollution assessment of subtropical lakes. To address these technical defects, we developed small-molecule fluorescent probes to evaluate the pollution level in natural water bodies. This method relies on the combination of the probes’ response signals to raw water and the water quality index, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of water quality assessments. Furthermore, this novel material has a large Stokes shift. It can detect complex levels of H2S concentrations in natural water bodies by correlating the degree of contamination and fluorescence signals. The development of this visual research tool for detecting environmental H2S levels in natural water bodies is expected to have meaningful, practical applications.