The detection of uranium(VI) with a synthesized ditopic bidentate ligand as probe by resonance light scattering

In order to detect the uranium(VI) in environmental water sample by means of establishing a novel resonance light scattering (RLS) method, we synthesized and characterized a ditopic bidentate ligand and studied its chelation with the uranyl(VI) ion. The chelating reaction can form supramolecular dimers and polymers, producing a strong RLS signal, which is used for quantitative analysis of uranium(VI) in aqueous solution. The linear range was 0.01–1.0 nmol mL −1 and the detection limit was 0.003 nmol mL −1 under the optimal conditions. The method has been used for the detection of uranium(VI) in environmental water samples and the recoveries were 98.0–101.0%.