Recognition of trace organic pollutant and toxic metal ions via a tailored fluorescent metal–organic coordination polymer in water environment

A novel fluorescence material H(2)Sr(2)(bqdc)(3)(phen)(2) (1) for trace recognition of organic pollutant and toxic metal ions is designed and prepared by two weak fluorescent ligands and Sr(2+). The latter was selected although it played no role in the modulation process of luminescence and despite low-cost, alkaline earth, metal–organic coordination polymers lacking competitive functionality. The strong fluorescence of the fluorescence material was based on the propeller configuration of the metal–organic coordination polymer, which was characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction showing that the N active sites inside the crystal channels can interact with external guests. Convenient fluorescence detection of 3-AT can be realized using an ultraviolet lamp and test strip and the determination of Cd(2+) showed good reusability with a detection limit of 1 × 10(−9) mol L(−1), which is lower than the standard stipulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Detailed experiments results revealed that the material was a promising candidate for specifically recognizing amitrole and Cd(2+) because of its selective fluorescence quenching and sensitive detection in water.