TALANTA, vol.202, pp.402-410, 2019 (SCI-Expanded)
Due to its relatively simple preparation and readily available precursors, determination of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) by portable devices has become important. In this work, two different titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO(2)NPs)-based colorimetric sensors based on complex formation on the solid surface were developed for determination of H2O2 and TATP. The first sensor, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) modifiedTiO(2)NPs-based paper sensor (APTES@TiO(2)NPs), exploits peroxo-titanate binary complex formation between APTES@TiO(2)NPs and H2O2 on chromatographic paper. The second sensor, 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol-modifiedTiO(2)NPs-based solid sensor (PAR@TiO(2)NPs), relies on the formation of a ternary complex between Ti(IV), PAR and H2O2. The developed sensors were also applied to TATP determination after acidic hydrolysis of samples to H2O2. The limits of detection (LODs) of APTES@TiO(2)NPs-based paper sensor were 3.14 x 10(-4) and 5.13 x 10(-4) MOIL-1 for H2O2 and TATP, respectively, whereas the LODs of PAR@TiO(2)NPs solid sensor were 6.06 x 10(-7) and 3.54 x 10(-7) MOIL-1 for H2O2 and TATP, respectively. Possible interferences of common soil ions, passenger belongings used as camouflage materials during public transport (e.g., detergent, sweetener, acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol-caffeine based analgesic drugs) and of other explosives were examined. The developed methods were statistically validated using t- and F- tests against the titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4) colorimetric literature method.