Triple-wavelength overlapping resonance Rayleigh scattering method for facile and rapid assay of perfluorooctane sulfonate

In the present study, a novel triple-wavelength overlapping resonance Rayleigh scattering (TWO-RRS) method had been well established to detect perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). We found that crystal violet (CV) could react with PFOS to form 1:1 ion-association complex by electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic effect over a wide pH range (5.0∼11.0) in less than 60 s. The complexes would further self-aggregated into nanoparticles [CV–PFOS] n . Based on this phenomenon, not only the absorption and Raman spectra were changed but also the resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) intensities were significantly enhanced. And three new RRS peaks located at 327, 492, and 654 nm were clearly observed, respectively. At the same time, it was found that both the enhanced single-wavelength resonance Rayleigh scattering (SW-RRS) and TWO-RRS intensities against the concentration of PFOS showed an excellent correlation. The detection limits for the three single peaks were 27.4 nmol L −1 (13.7 μg L −1 , 327 nm), 27.5 nmol L −1 (13.8 μg L −1 , 492 nm), and 31.4 nmol L −1 (15.7 μg L −1 , 654 nm), and for TWO-RRS method was 5.9 nmol L −1 (3.0 μg L −1 ). Moreover, it could be applied to determine PFOS water samples successfully. A triple-wavelength overlapping resonance Rayleigh scattering (TWO-RRS) method for rapid and facile assay of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) based on the interaction with crystal violet (CV) has been successfully established in water samples.