Fluorometric analysis of peracetic acid by the oxidative hydroxylation of a phenylboronic acid containing dye

Abstract

Peracetic acid (PAA) is a strong oxidant that is used for a number of practical purposes including organic synthesis and sterilization, but corrosive and toxic. We investigated a novel reaction-based fluorometric signaling probe for the easy monitoring and determination of PAA that involves the oxidative hydroxylation of a phenylboronic acid containing dye. The probe exhibited pronounced fluorescence signaling toward PAA over other practical oxidants, as well as commonly encountered metal ions and anions. In particular, the probe was capable of discriminating between PAA and coexisting hydrogen peroxide, and interference from hypochlorous acid was circumvented by adding a small amount (1%) of DMSO as a scavenger. The probe operates over a wide pH range (4.0–10.5), and its detection limit toward PAA was found to be 4.6 × 10–8 M (3.5 ppb). The probe was readily used to determine PAA with a smartphone by monitoring the changes in the blue-channel level of the acquired images. Finally, the successful quantitative determination of airborne PAA was achieved using probe-impregnated paper-based strips.