Authors
Lav Kumar Yadav, G Raviraju, Mukesh Das, Tuhin Roy, Vinod K Lodhi, Ajeet Kumar, Avik Mazumder, Vinod Kumar
Published in
Analytica chimica acta. Volume 1421. Pages 346040. Nov 01, 2026. Epub Jul 28, 2026.
Abstract
The realization of rapid, cost-effective, and onsite detection strategies for mustard gas (HD) remains a key challenge in advancing next-generation chemical defense and environmental monitoring technologies. Herein, we report a redox-modulated methylene blue (MB)-based chromogenic platform for the highly selective detection of HD. The sensing strategy exploits the redox interconversion between oxidized MB (blue) and its reduced leuco form (colorless), mediated by sodium thiosulfate. In its native state, sodium thiosulfate reduces MB under acidic conditions, resulting in a blue-to-colorless response. However, in the presence of HD, thiosulfate undergoes S-alkylation to form a Bunte salt, suppressing its reducing ability and preserving MB in its oxidized blue form, producing a distinct "turn-on" signal. This platform demonstrates high selectivity against competing electrophilic species, including phosphorylating, acetylating, alkylating agents, oxidizing agents, reducing agents, and other organosulfur compounds. The detection system is readily applicable to diverse real-world matrices, including soil, concrete, vegetation, tree bark, floormats, and electronic equipment thereby strengthening preparedness and response in suspected warfare incidents. With low millimolar detection limits (visual: 0.125 mM (0.02 mg); UV-Vis: 0.02 mM (0.01 mg)) and minimal operational complexity, this work presents a robust and accessible strategy for converting visual detection into practical next-generation sensing technologies for chemical threat assessment.
PMID:
42702457
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Sep 2026.
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