Uracil-appended fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ and Hg2+ ions: Real-life utilities including recognition of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) in milk products and invisible ink applications

Abstract A simple uracil-appended fluorescent sensor (1) has been developed by one pot reaction and characterized by using common spectroscopic methods such as UV-vis, Fluorescence, HRMS and FT-IR spectroscopies. Upon addition of various metal ions to the CH3CN solution of sensor 1, the fluorescence was quenched in the presence of Cu2+ / Hg2+ ions. The limit of detection for Cu2+ and Hg2+ was calculated to be 3.31 and 0.316 µM, respectively. Further, the sensor was applied for real-life applications in the determination of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and its presence in milk products. On the incorporation of different sources of vitamin-B to acetonitrile solution of it, there was discernible fluorescence enhancement only in the presence of vitamin B2. Also, it has been successfully applied for the detection of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) in milk and curd. Moreover, based on the fluorescent color changes, the sensor was utilized for invisible ink applications.