Colorimetric and fluorescence analysis of percarbonate and oxygen bleach by perhydrolysis of resorufin ester

Abstract

Percarbonate is an important oxidant that is widely used in industrial applications and daily life. In this study, a simple colorimetric and fluorescence method for percarbonate determination using resorufin-based probe 1, carrying a pivaloyl protection group as a signaling switch, was developed. Probe 1 exhibited selective and sensitive signaling behavior for percarbonate via perhydrolysis of the pivaloyl group by hydrogen peroxide that was produced from percarbonate, in the presence of commonly encountered metal ions and anions. Among the esters tested as signaling switches, pivalate was optimal owing to its resistance to spontaneous hydrolysis and high signaling speed under the employed conditions. The detection limit for percarbonate was estimated to be 0.45 μM. The probe was applied to the analysis of percarbonate in domestic bleach using a scanner as a field-oriented signal-capturing device. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd