Pesticide luminescent detection and degradation using NU-1000 MOF

Abstract

The metal–organic-framework (MOF) NU-1000 was synthetized and investigated for the concomitant detection and degradation of organophosphorous pesticides such as paraoxon-methyl. After confirming the stability of the synthesized NU-1000 in a buffered suspension of N-ethylmorpholine (NEM) at pH 10, the degradation properties of paraoxon-methyl were studied for different NU-1000 concentrations and pesticide/NU-1000 ratios. UV-Vis absorption was used to monitor the concentration of p-nitrophenol, the degradation product of paraoxon-methyl, and to determine the reaction half-life. NU-1000 luminescence was found to be quenched by the presence of p-nitrophenol in the buffered suspension and an alteration of the emission spectra was observed. As an example of potential practical applications, NU-1000 was used to detect paraoxon-methyl on fresh fruit. Concentrations as low as 1 ppm were successfully detected and revealed to the naked eye under UV light.