Synthesis of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles using sustainable waste glycerol and its application as efficient sensor for picric acid detection

Biodiesel is a green alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The biodiesel production generates glycerol as a byproduct which is generally discarded. Herein, waste glycerol is used as a precursor for the synthesis of glycerol-derived fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (g-CNPs) by a one-pot hydrothermal approach. The as-synthesized g-CNPs exhibit bluish fluorescence in both solid form and in aqueous dispersion. The g-CNPs can be utilized as a sensitive and selective probe for picric acid (PA) detection by fluorescence quenching process. The fluorescence of the g-CNPs versus the concentration of PA displays a linearity ranging from 0 to 7.2 μM with a limit of detection of 1.07 μM. Moreover, the developed material is also effectively applied to detect PA in water samples. Therefore, this work may provide insights into the development of facile and eco-friendly waste material-based g-CNPs as a fluorescent sensor for the detection of PA.