Chemical sensing platform for the Zn+2 ions based on poly(o-anisidine-co-methyl anthranilate) copolymer composites and their environmental remediation in real samples

A novel nanostructure of poly(o-anisidine-co-methyl anthranilate) (poly(Ani-Co-MA) copolymer has been synthesized by chemical oxidative in situ polymerization technique with equal molar proportion of monomers in the presence of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (SDBS) surfactant. The synthesized copolymers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray crystallography (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and simultaneous X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study. The ultraviolet visible spectrum shows the π to π∗ transition and n to π∗ transition. XRD diffraction pattern confirms the amorphous nature of poly(Ani-Co-MA)-SDBS composites. The scanning electron microscope image shows the morphology of the copolymer matrix. For the selective detection of Zn⁺² cation in neutral phosphate buffer, it was fabricated Zn⁺² cation sensor based on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) coated with poly(Ani-co-MA)-SDBS composites as a thin layer with conducting coating binders. The proposed cation sensor has been found to exhibit the inertness in air and chemical environment, long-term stability with good sensitivity, a broad linear dynamic range practically, a reliable reproducibility, short response time, and high electrochemical activity. The sensitivity (0.3560 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻²) of Zn⁺² cation sensor has been calculated from the slope of the calibration curve. The linearity of the calibration curve is found over the linear dynamic range (LDR) 0.1 nM~0.01 M, and detection limit (DL) is 27.0 ± 1.35 pM at the signal to noise ratio of 3. This novel effort may be considered quite reliable and effective to detect Zn⁺² cation in environmental and biomedical sectors on a broad scale. Simultaneously, SDBS doped poly(o-anisidine-co-methyl anthranilate) copolymer composites were measured against medically important organisms Escherichia coli. E. ludwigi, and Bacillus subtilis. Graphical abstract ᅟ