Sensitive fluorimetric flow injection analysis for fluoride ion with a novel reagent, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein di-tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether

A novel reagent, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein di-tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether (FCl2TBS), was synthesized for fluoride ion and used for a sensitive fluorimetric flow injection analysis by detecting the recovery of fluorescence due to cleavage of Si–O bond. Four kinds of fluorescein di-tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether (FTBS) analogues were synthesized and FCl2TBS was the best. By introducing chlorine to FTBS, stability of the reagent, reactivity and the baseline signals were improved. The FIA system was three lines. The sample solution (aqua medium) was injected in the carrier solution (water) and merged with the reagent solution (2.0 × 10−5 M FCl2TBS acetone solution), then mixed with phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.5). The fluorescence intensities were measured at λex 503 nm and λem 527 nm. The calibration graph had linear relationship between (1.0–50.0) × 10−6 M and the determinable limit was 1.0 × 10−6 M. The relative standard deviation of 12 measurements with 1.0 × 10−5 M F− solution was 1.0% and the sample throughput was 13 h−1. The developed method was successfully applied to river and tap water samples.