Semi-quantitative detection of p-Aminophenol in real samples with colorfully naked-eye assay

Abstract

p-Aminophenol (p-AP) is one of the common environmental pollutants with teratogenic effects, nephrotoxicity and genotoxicity. In this study, a novel colorimetric method for quickly, sensitive and on-site detection of p-AP was developed based on target induced etching of AuNRs, which will generate colorful color changes. Our investigation reveals that potassium iodate (KIO3) can be reduced by p-AP to generate iodine (I2), and I2 can etch CTAB stabilized AuNRs along the longitudinal direction. As an emerging fascinating colorimetric material, LSPR extinction peak of AuNRs will shift to short wave direction with a color change from the initial tea red to brown, gray, dark green, cyan, blue, indigo, purple, purplish red and final pink. Under the optimal conditions, our strategy is analytically specific and sensitive for the detection of p-AP from 0.5 μM to 20 μM by the naked eye, and a detection limit of 0.27 μM was achieved. Meanwhile, this colorimetric method is used to detect p-AP in environmental water, paracetamol tablets and human urine. Hence, this proposed strategy has the advantages of rapid semi-quantitative analysis of p-AP with naked eyes, simple operation and good application prospect.