A study on the use of Bathophenanthroline as a fluorescence sensor for iron(II)

Abstract

Although Fe2+ is present as a trace element, it plays a vital role in living systems. Therefore measurement of trace amounts of Fe2+ is very important for many biological and ecological studies. Bathophenanthroline (BPhen) forms a stable 1:3 red color complex with Fe2+ and appears as a promising colorimetric probe for Fe2+. Using colorimetry, it has been possible to detect 10 parts of Fe2+ in 109 parts of water (540 nM).1,2