Contamination of drinking water by nitrite ions continues to be a problem throughout the world.  Studies have associated nitrite ions with infant methemoglobinemia �blue baby syndrome� and as an important precursor to the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines. While a number of tests are available for the detection of nitrite, they require complicated methods. A simple test could aid in on-site detection of nitrite ions. Gel-based sensors are portable and can provide a clear yes/no signal of analyte presence by a visual change in the material's physical properties. This presentation will describe the development of a portable gel-based sensor for detecting nitrite ions in water. The gelator scaffold was identified by examining crystal structures from the Cambridge Structural Database for one dimensional interactions, which are hypothesized to be influential in gel fiber formation. A number of derivatives were synthesized and examined for gelation ability.

Development of a gel-based sensor for detecting nitrite

246th National Meeting (2013)

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