Anthraquinone Schiff base and SDS-based visual detection for environmental safety: Targeting triphosgene and Hg2+ with secondary focus on detection of BSA

New sensing techniques with exceptional performance, i.e., high sensitivity, high selectivity, and dependability, are needed to meet the growing demand for quick and accurate environmental pollution prevention and monitoring. A novel Schiff base probe synthesized from anthraquinone and 4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (coded as AQHB) was synthesized and subsequently combined with anionic surfactant Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) assemblies to form highly fluorescent AQHB@SDS ensemble. The zeta potential of ensemble AQHB@SDS is −52.6 mV confirm the encapsulation of AQHB (-17.3 mV) in SDS micelles. This formed fluorescent AQHB@SDS ensemble further practical applications in detection of toxic triphosgene and Hg²⁺ ions via naked eye color change and fluorescence quenching mechanism. The fluorescence of in-situ formed AQHB@SDS+Hg²⁺ complex restored by the addition of BSA. The optimized system demonstrates detection limits of 0.60, 0.68, and an impressive 0.028 nM for triphosgene, Hg²⁺, BSA respectively. Control experiments revealed that the -OH and -NH groups in AQHB along with anionic surfactant played crucial roles in the sensing mechanism. Moreover, the ensemble AQHB@SDS system efficiently detected triphosgene and Hg²⁺ in real samples, such as water and soil, highlighting its practical applicability.