Issue 12, 2016

A one-step colorimetric acid–base titration sensor using a complementary color changing coordination system

Abstract

We report the development of a colorimetric sensor that allows for the quantitative measurement of the acid content via acid–base titration in a single-step. In order to create the sensor, we used a cobalt coordination system (Co-complex sensor) that changes from greenish blue colored Co(H2O)4(OH)2 to pink colored Co(H2O)62+ after neutralization. Greenish blue and pink are two complementary colors with a strong contrast. As a certain amount of acid is introduced to the Co-complex sensor, a portion of greenish blue colored Co(H2O)4(OH)2 changes to pink colored Co(H2O)62+, producing a different color. As the ratio of greenish blue and pink in the Co-complex sensor is determined by the amount of neutralization reaction occurring between Co(H2O)4(OH)2 and an acid, the sensor produced a spectrum of green, yellow green, brown, orange, and pink colors depending on the acid content. In contrast, the color change appeared only beyond the end point for normal acid–base titration. When we mixed this Co-complex sensor with different concentrations of citric acid, tartaric acid, and malic acid, three representative organic acids in fruits, we observed distinct color changes for each sample. This color change could also be observed in real fruit juice. When we treated the Co-complex sensor with real tangerine juice, it generated diverse colors depending on the concentration of citric acid in each sample. These results provide a new angle on simple but quantitative measurements of analytes for on-site usage in various applications, such as in food, farms, and the drug industry.

Graphical abstract: A one-step colorimetric acid–base titration sensor using a complementary color changing coordination system

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Marts 2016
Accepted
20 Apr. 2016
First published
21 Apr. 2016

Analyst, 2016,141, 3890-3897

A one-step colorimetric acid–base titration sensor using a complementary color changing coordination system

H. H. Cho, S. H. Kim, J. H. Heo, Y. E. Moon, Y. H. Choi, D. C. Lim, K. Han and J. H. Lee, Analyst, 2016, 141, 3890 DOI: 10.1039/C6AN00744A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements