ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

A smartphone-assisted simple, rapid and highly selective assay for hydrazine in environmental samples employing crystal violet as colorimetric probe

Sarzamin Khan, Sana Ijaz, Iqra Ali, Uzma Nawaz, Sanaullah Khan, Nazish Huma Khan, Carlos A. T. Toloza, Eman Alzahrani, and Zaibi

Department of Chemistry, University of Swabi, Anbar, Pakistan

E-mail: sarzamin@uoswabi.edu.pk

Received: 17 December 2024  Accepted: 5 April 2025

Abstract:

Hydrazine is an inorganic compound, an excellent propellant and a strong reducing agent with large industrial applications. Nonetheless, it is a highly persistent pollutant and a potential carcinogen that needs to be analyzed in the water environment for human well-being. Crystal violet is an excellent colorimetric probe toward hydrazine with high efficiency at nanomolar level, rapid detection responses in a few minutes and excellent selectivity over inorganic ions and natural organic matter. The proposed method achieved appropriate recoveries (i.e., 96–110%) in tap water and industrial wastewater samples. The limit of detection (LOD) was measured as 2.0 nM, while the relative standard deviation (R.S.D) was found as 2.6%. The colorimetric responses were detected through naked eyes and further assisted via smartphone. The crystal violet colorimetric probe provided a useful analytical method for the detection of nanomolar concentration of carcinogenic hydrazine in drinking and environmental water samples.

Keywords: Characterization and Analytical Technique; DNA probes; Fluorescent Probes; Fluorescent dyes; Raman Spectroscopy; UV-Visible Spectroscopy; Hydrazine detection; Probe; Colorimetric technique; Environmental analysis

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04088-3

Chemical Papers 79 (7) 4661–4669 (2025)