Use a Fluorescent Molecular Sensor for the Detection of Pesticides and Herbicides in Water

A fluorescent chemosensor based on modified β-cyclodextrin was used for the detection of pesticides and herbicides in water. Binding constants, thermodynamic parameters and sensitivity factors were calculated and supported by AM1 semi-empirical method calculation. The results show clearly that a fluorescent chemical sensor based on modified β- cyclodextrin detects quantitatively the presence of pesticides or herbicides and allow a direct analysis of these pollutants as a new method of detection with limits of the order of ppm for the whole of the analytes.