Green composite colorimetric and “Turn-on” fluorescent material for the detection of Al3+ ion in blood serum and herbal tea

Abstract

In the present investigation, we fabricated an ecologically sustainable green composite material derived from green raw materials, including cellulose nanomaterials and Morin. This innovative material underscores its commitment to environmental friendliness and boasts distinctive surface properties that render it an ideal substrate. The selection of this material was motivated by its intricate network structure and inherent capacity for surface modifications. The crux of our methodology involved the integration of the organic probe 2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxychromen-4-one, commonly known as Morin, onto the surface of the cellulose nanocomposite. This strategic embedding of Morin conferred the composite material with exceptional attributes, enabling preconcentration, spectrophotometric determination, and fluorometric turn-on sensing of Al3+ ions. This unique property facilitated the ion-sensing of Al3+ ions in diverse samples, including blood serum and herbal tea.The resultant Morin green composite material exhibited remarkable sensitivity toward Al3+ ions in aqueous solutions, accomplishing extraordinary LOD as low as 0.26 ppb. This heightened sensitivity permits for precise and efficient ion-sensing and enables the detection to be perceptible to the naked eye. Notably, the Morin green composite material displayed a rapid and distinct color change within a brief span of less than two minutes when exposed to varying concentrations of Al3+ ions. Beyond its analytical prowess, the developed Morin green composite material demonstrated significant efficacy in practical applications. Specifically, it showcased remarkable performance in detecting Al3+ ions in serum samples and herbal tea samples.