A biomass-derived Schiff base material composited with polylactic acid nanofiber membrane as selective fluorescent ‘turn off/on’ platform for Pb2+ quantitative detection and characterization

Herein, a biomass-derived compound Z1 is synthesized via ‘one pot’ method for detection Pb2+ using fluorescence and visual dual-mode in aqueous solution. Z1 shows good response to Pb2+ with a limit of detection (LOD) of 13.4 nM. Importantly, the coordination mode of Z1 with Pb2+ is further evaluated by UV–vis and NMR spectroscopy and a 1:1 stoichiometry is identified. Furthermore, Z1 can be applied to detection Pb2+ in practical samples with satisfactory recoveries in range of 96.0 %–112.0 % in real samples. Besides, Z1 is added into polylactic acid (PLA) solution and made as portable fluorescence nanofiber membrane for Pb2+ detection. Further, Z1 responds to Pb2+ with high selectivity and sensitivity and has been applied for tracking Pb2+ changes in soil samples, zebrafish, and plant tissues. These results indicated that Z1 had great application potential in accurate detection Pb2+. •A biomass-derived Schiff base compound Z1 was synthesized.•Z1 as fluorescence probe exhibited low detection limit for specific monitoring Pb2+(34 nM).•Z1-based nanofiber membrane was fabricated to detect Pb2+.•Z1 could determine Pb2+ within environmental water, soil and food samples.•Z1 was capable of labeling Pb2+ in live zebrafish embryos and zebrafish, onion and tobacco tissues.