In the present work, a phenanthroline derivative (2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, MPP), as a fluorescent probe, was synthesized to realize a rapid, simple and sensitive detection of silver(I). The detection conditions of Ag+ were optimized. This fluorescent probe has the advantages of a fast reaction time, a wide pH applicable range, and a low detection limit, exhibiting a good linear response between the fluorescence intensity and the concentration in the range of 0.05 - 1.5 μmol/L for Ag+. The detection limit is as low as 3.38 × 10-8 mol/L (S/N = 3). This probe had been used to detect Ag+ in real samples, and the recovery efficiency of spiked Ag+ had been also tested. The recovery efficiency is satisfactory, ranging from 92.0 to 105.4%. Therefore, this fluorescent probe should provide a new choice for the quantitative detection of silver ions in environmental water samples.
Keywords: Silver ions; fluorescence probe; heavy metal; sensitivity; small organic molecule.