Polystyrene microsphere-based lanthanide luminescent chemosensor for detection of organophosphate pesticides

Fluorescent microspheres of polystyrene-based Eu(III) complexes were prepared from TentaGel resin, 2,6-bisbenzimidazolylpyridine and europium nitrate. The microspheres were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, XPS measurements and fluorescence spectroscopy. Characteristic red emission under irradiation of 365 nm light from a hand-held UV lamp was observed for the microspheres either in a solution or solid-state. Fluorescent quenching was observed when the microspheres were exposed to a trace amount of diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP) in the dispersion. The material and property can be potentially used to fabricate chemosensor in the detection of organophosphates.