Silicon corrole functionalized color catcher strips for fluoride ion detection

Monitoring fluoride ions in drinking water is essential for human health. The ability of (Hydroxy)[5,10,15-tri-tolylcorrolato]silicon complexes [SiTTC(OH)] to bind fluoride ions with a significant color change is exploited to develop a simple and low-cost device to detect in situ fluoride ions in aqueous media. SiTTC(OH) was deposited on Color Catcher & REG; (CC) strips, representing the first example of this support functionalized with a neutral re-ceptor insoluble in water. The CC-SiTTC(OH) strip preparation protocol was optimized to obtain the best per-formances. Binding of F-led to a drastic color change in CC-SiTTC (OH), and colorimetric measurements were performed with an inexpensive instrumental setup similar to photo-assisted technique (PT), obtaining a LOD lower than the legal limit of 1.5 mg/L (& AP; 80 & mu;M) allowed by WHO. The value of the colorimetric variation, processed in terms of Hue, is able to measure with great accuracy the F -concentration in water samples.

Automated summary

Monitoring fluoride ions in drinking water is crucial for human health. A simple and low-cost device was developed using (Hydroxy)[5,10,15-tri-tolylcorrolato]silicon complexes [SiTTC(OH)], which can bind to fluoride ions and cause a significant color change, to detect fluoride ions in aqueous media. By optimizing the preparation protocol of CC-SiTTC(OH) strips, a colorimetric measurement setup similar to photo-assisted technique (PT) was used to accurately measure the concentration of fluoride ions in water samples, with a limit of detection lower than the legal limit allowed by WHO.