Design of a novel optical sensor for determination of trace amounts of copper by UV/vis spectrophotometry in the real samples

The characterization of an optode is described for determination of copper. The effects of pH, indicator concentration and reaction time on the immobilization of ligand were studied. The optical sensor was successfully applied for the determination of copper(II) in various samples. •The characterization of an optode is described for determination of copper.•The optode can readily be regenerated using thiourea solutions.•The sensor was successfully applied for determination of copper in various samples. The characterization of an optode is described for detection of copper(II) based on the immobilization of 6-bromo-3-(2-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2H-chromen-2 one on a triacetylcellulose membrane. The effects of pH, indicator concentration and reaction time on the immobilization of ligand were studied. This optode can readily be regenerated using thiourea solutions and its response was reproducible and reversible (R.S.D. less than 2.7%). The Cu(II) could be determined in the range between 7.0×10−7 and 1.0×10−4M with a detection limit of 2.5×10−7M. The optical sensor was successfully applied for the determination of copper(II) in various real samples.