Fluorescent detection of chlorpyrifos using Mn(II)-doped ZnS quantum dots coated with a molecularly imprinted polymer

We show that Mn(II)-doped ZnS quantum dots coated with an acrylamide-based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP-coated QDs) can act as a fluorescent probe for the selective and sensitive detection of the insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF). The fluorescence of the coated QDs is quenched on loading the MIP with CPF, and the effect is much stronger for the MIP than for the non-imprinted polymer. The MIP-coated QDs were characterized by fluorescence spectrophotometry, X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Under optimal conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity of the MIP-coated QDs decreases linearly with the increasing concentration of CPF in the 0.3–60 μmol L −1 concentration range, and the detection limit is 17 nmol L −1 . The method has been used for the determination of CPF in spiked water samples and gave recoveries in the range from 87.1 to 94.5 % with relative standard deviations in the 2.9 to 6.5 % range. The method is simple, safe and inexpensive.