The field of anion sensing has seen rapid growth in recent years, yet the design of sensors that are both specific and sensitive remains under developed. Sensors that function as chemodosimeters offer unique mechanisms through which anion sensing can occur, and such, provide exceptional specificity, selectivity, and sensitivity. 4-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine has been studied for its properties as a colorimetric chemodosimeter. The sensor displays a loss of 10% of the highest peak absorbance upon the addition of 10<sup>-7</sup>M sulfite and continues to be bleached upon further addition of sulfite. This interaction was unaffected by 20 equivalents of competitive anions such as sulfates, carbonates, nitrates, halides, and nitrites. This result was determined to be from the formation of a covalent bond between the sensor and the sulfite ion. The sensor’s reactivity in various solvent systems, and pHs has been studied. It was found that the sensor detects unbound, or free, sulfites exclusively, and has a lower limit of detection of 3.69 nM. The sensor’s ability to be used as a free sulfite test in commercial products such as wines, foods, beers, juices, pharmaceuticals, and ciders has been investigated.

Selective optical detection of free sulfites in aqueous and non-aqueous environments

2019 Spring National Meeting

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