The novel green fluorescent probe for the detection of carbendazim

Carbendazim is primarily employed to manage crop diseases. However, excessive pesticide usage poses risks to human health. Therefore, developing a highly sensitive detection method for carbendazim is essential. Nitrogen-doped carbon dots Rhp-N CDs were synthesized through a straightforward one-step hydrothermal process, using Rhizoma paridis extracts and o -phenylenediamine as precursors. Rhp-N CDs were purified using dialysis, thin-layer chromatography, and column chromatography. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the Rhp-N CDs displayed a spherical morphology with an average particle size of 2.19 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that they were composed of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) elements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that Rhp-N CDs contained amino groups on their surface. The linear ranges of carbendazim detection were 0–50 μg/L and 50–150 μg/L, with low detection limits of 6.81 ng/L and 20.9 ng/L, respectively. Furthermore, the fluorescence quenching mechanism of the target on Rhp-N CDs was elucidated. The nano-fluorescent probe was demonstrated to be effective in determining the content of carbendazim in samples of Snow pears, Winter jujubes, Snow peaches, and Bananas, thereby illustrating the possibility of its practical application.