Chemiluminescence amplification via enhanced generation of bisulfite radicals for determination of tributyl phosphate flame retardant

Tributyl phosphate (TNBP) with remarkable biological neurotoxicity and genotoxicity is a typical organophosphate flame retardant (OPFR) emerging contaminant, which has been found frequently in water, atmosphere, and solid, etc. It is important to explore efficient sensing strategies for TNBP. Herein, a direct Ce4+/SO32- chemiluminescence (CL) system for efficiently and sensitively detecting TNBP flame retardant has been developed. The CL mechanism was uncovered by exploring reactive oxygen species (ROS), the emitting species, and reaction products. The results demonstrate that TNBP molecules induce the enhanced generation of HSO3•- radicals in Ce4+/SO32- system, and a large amount of SO2* are subsequently generated, which account for the amplified CL emission. In view of this, a novel CL sensor for TNBP is established, which shows the advantages of fast determination, great selectivity, wide linear range (50–10000 ng mL−1), low limit of detection (13.61 ng mL−1), and good precision (RSD < 4.67%, n = 13). This work further provides an interesting perspective for direct CL behavior of OPFRs, and paves the way for the real-time monitoring of emerging pollutants.