Fluorescence "turn-on" chemosensor for the selective detection of zinc ion based on Schiff-base derivative.

N,N'-phenylenebis(salicylideaminato) (L) has been used to detect trace amounts of zinc ion in acetonitrile-water solution by fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescent probe undergoes fluorescent emission intensity enhancement upon binding to zinc ions in MeCN/H(2)O (1:1, v/v) solution. The fluorescence enhancement of L is attributed to the 1:1 complex formation between L and Zn(II), which has been utilized as the basis for selective detection of Zn(II). The linear response range for Zn(II) covers a concentration range of 1.6x10(-7) to 1.0x10(-5)mol/L, and the detection limit is 1.5x10(-7)mol/L. The fluorescent probe exhibits high selectivity over other common metal ions, and the proposed fluorescent sensor was applied to determine zinc in water samples and waste water.