Development of a Chemosensor for Measuring Ammonia Concentration Dissolved in Water

The results of work on the development of a sensor sensitive to ammonia dissolved in water are presented. The well-known Eosin Y was used as the active substance, which had not previously been applied for this purpose and was synthesized by a new method. The study includes the results of absorption and fluorescence spectra analysis of Eosin Y solution, as well as silicone films with the chemosensor, which were pre-immersed in aqueous ammonia solutions of varying concentrations. Sensor prototype tests were conducted, revealing a correlation between fluorescence intensity and the concentration of ammonia dissolved in water, and a calibration curve was constructed. Further research is planned to investigate long-term stability, increase sensitivity, reduce the influence of fluorescence from the silicone substrate, and develop the sensor's design. The ammonia sensor holds promise for applications in environmental monitoring, industry, water supply, agriculture, and aquaculture.