Fabrication of selective and sensitive Pb2+ detection by 2,2′-(−(1,2-phenylenebis(azaneylylidene))bis(methaneylylidene))diphenol by electrochemical approach for environmental remediation.

Abstract The Tetradentate Schiff base was easily prepared from o -phenylenediamine and salicylaldehyde and used as a ligand for the detection of heavy metal ions in phosphate buffer medium by electrochemical approach. To fabricate the selective lead (Pb2+) ion sensor, a slurry of the synthesized 2,2′-(−(1,2-phenylenebis(azaneylylidene))bis(methaneylylidene))diphenol (TDL) ligand was deposited onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as uniform thin-layer. The calibration curve of the proposed Pb2+ ion sensor in form of a current vs. concentration plot is found to be linear over Pb2+ ion concentration range (0.1 nM ~ 0.01 mM). The sensitivity of the sensor is very high (8.84 μAμM−1 cm−2) and detection limit is as low as 98.02 ± 0.50 pM (Limit of quantification is 316.73 pM). The projected Pb2+ sensor with active TDL shows reliability, precise reproducibility and short response time (16.0 s.) during sensing performances. Above all, it was showed successive applicability to detect the real environmental samples. In the field sensor development, this methodology using TDL onto GCE might be ae efficient and reliable innovative technique for the detection of heavy metal ions by electrochemical methods. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Tetradentate TDL Schiff-base was prepared by condensation method • TDL/Nafion/GCE Pb2+ sensor probe was fabricated • The highest sensitivity (~25.05 μAμM−1 cm−2) was achieved • The lowest LOD (~37.88 ± 1.89 pM) was found • Environmental and healthcare safety [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]