Color-Changing Wool Fibers Detect Hazardous Ammonia Using Common Hop Extract

Jenn Hoskins
29th July, 2024

Color-Changing Wool Fibers Detect Hazardous Ammonia Using Common Hop Extract

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at the National Research Centre in Cairo developed a wool-based sensor to detect ammonia using natural dye
  • The wool sensor changes color from yellow to white when exposed to ammonia, indicating its presence
  • This sensor is highly sensitive, detecting ammonia levels as low as 5 ppm, and maintains the fabric's original properties
Ammonia is a colorless gas that poses significant health risks if inhaled or ingested in high concentrations. Detecting ammonia quickly and accurately is crucial for safety in various environments. Researchers at the National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt, have developed a novel solid-state colorimetric smart wool (WL) sensor for ammonia detection using natural resources[1]. This study introduces a practical and efficient method for monitoring ammonia levels, which could be beneficial in industrial and medical settings. Ammonia detection has been a focus of scientific research due to its widespread use in industries and its potential health hazards. Traditional detection methods involve electronic, electrochemical, and spectroscopic techniques[2]. These methods, while effective, often require sophisticated equipment and are not always suitable for on-site or real-time monitoring. The new study leverages the natural dye xanthohumol (XN), extracted from common hop (Humulus lupulus L.), to create a colorimetric sensor. Wool fabrics were dyed with different concentrations of xanthohumol using a high-temperature high-pressure method in the presence of a mordant. The resulting wool fabric changes color from yellow to white upon exposure to aqueous ammonia. This colorimetric shift is due to a hypsochromic shift in the absorbance spectra from 498 nm to 367 nm, indicating changes in the molecular structure of xanthohumol caused by intramolecular charge delocalization. The wool sensor demonstrated an impressive detection limit ranging from 5 to 125 ppm of ammonia. This sensitivity is particularly noteworthy when compared to other ammonia detection methods. For instance, perovskite structured CsPbX3 quantum dots have been shown to detect ammonia with a limit as low as 8.85 ppm, but they require a more complex setup and are not as straightforward to use as a fabric-based sensor[3]. Furthermore, the incorporation of mordant/xanthohumol nanoparticles into the wool fabrics did not negatively impact the material's properties, such as stiffness or air permeability. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that these nanoparticles had diameters ranging from 15 to 40 nm, ensuring that the fabric maintained its original characteristics while gaining the added functionality of ammonia detection. This development is particularly relevant in medical settings where ammonia levels in the blood are critical markers for various conditions. Traditional blood ammonia tests are performed in central laboratories, and while point-of-care devices exist, they have not been widely adopted due to their reliance on classical methods[4]. The wool-based sensor offers a more accessible and potentially more widely adopted solution for real-time monitoring. Additionally, the study's findings align with previous research on the detection of volatile amines, which are similar in behavior to ammonia. HBT-based fluorescent probes have been used for detecting amine vapors and ammonia with high sensitivity, demonstrating the ongoing need for efficient and practical sensors in various applications[5]. In summary, the development of a colorimetric smart wool sensor for ammonia detection by the National Research Centre in Cairo represents a significant advancement in the field. By utilizing natural dye and maintaining the fabric's original properties, this sensor offers a practical, sensitive, and efficient solution for monitoring ammonia levels in various settings. This innovation holds promise for enhancing safety and health monitoring in both industrial and medical contexts.

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References

Main Study

1) Vapochromic wool fibers for hazardous ammonia detection using xanthohumol biomolecule from natural extract of common hop (Humulus lupulus L.).

Published 26th July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134200

Related Studies

2) Ammonia gas sensors: A comprehensive review.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2019.06.034

3) Dynamic Passivation in Perovskite Quantum Dots for Specific Ammonia Detection at Room Temperature.

https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201904462

4) An electrochemical sensor device for measuring blood ammonia at the point of care.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2017.02.025

5) Benzothiazole derivatives based colorimetric and fluorescent probes for detection of amine/ammonia and monitoring the decomposition of urea by urease.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2021.120616


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