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A Simple Determination of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) Based on Fluorescence Quenching of Rhodamine 110 with FRET Mechanism

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Abstract

Sensitive and selective detection of nitroaromatic explosives is an important issue in regard to human health, environment, public security and military issues. In this study, a simple and sensitive fluorescence quenching − based assay utilizing Rhodamine 110 as fluorophore probe was developed for the determination of trinitrotoluene (TNT). This sensitive fluorometric method could measure the decrease in fluorescence of Rhodamine 110 (λex = 490 nm, λem = 521 nm) owing to the primary amine groups of Rhodamine 110 (different from other rhodamines) capable of donor-acceptor interaction with TNT. The resulting TNT-amine complex can strongly quench the fluorescence emission of Rhodamine 110 by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) which occurs as the excited Rhodamine 110 fluorophore (donor) transfers its energy to TNT (acceptor) by non-radiative dipole-dipole interaction. Fluorescence quenching varied linearly with TNT concentration, with LOD and the LOQ of 0.71 and 2.38 mg L− 1 TNT, respectively. Similar explosives, common soil ions, and possible camouflage materials were found not to interfere with the proposed method, offering significant advantages with its easy methodology, low-cost, sensitivity, and rapidity of analysis.

Graphical Abstract

FRET mechanism based on dye donor-TNT acceptor interaction.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Application & Research Center for the Measurement of Food Antioxidants, for sharing its research infrastructures. Author Furkan Burak ŞEN would like to thank Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Institute of Graduate Studies for the support given to his PhD thesis entitled ‘Development of new analytical methods for determination of nitro- and peroxide-type energetic materials’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey

    Furkan Burak Şen & Reşat Apak

  2. Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34126, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mustafa Bener

Authors
  1. Furkan Burak Şen
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  2. Mustafa Bener
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  3. Reşat Apak
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Contributions

Furkan Burak ŞEN: Experimental work, Investigation of optimal parameters. Mustafa BENER: Method optimization, Writing- Original draft preparation. Reşat APAK: Conceptualization, Writing-Reviewing and Editing.

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Correspondence to Reşat Apak.

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Şen, F.B., Bener, M. & Apak, R. A Simple Determination of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) Based on Fluorescence Quenching of Rhodamine 110 with FRET Mechanism. J Fluoresc 31, 989–997 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-021-02731-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-021-02731-2

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