Naked-eye determination of oxalate anion in aqueous solution with copper ion and pyrocatechol violet.

A novel strategy for the determination of oxalate anions was successfully established using a copper ion and pyrocatechol violet (PV) ensemble. The sensor ensemble can discriminate oxalate over other common anions including F(-), Cl(-), I(-), Br(-), HPO(4)(2-), PO(4)(3-), AcO(-), CO(3)(2-), SO(4)(2-), ClO(4)(-), P(2)O(7)(4-), S(2-) (deposited by Ag(+)), CN(-) (shielded by Fe(3+)) and can detect oxalate at low microgram levels in quasi-physiological aqueous solutions. The detection of the oxalate anion gives rise to a rapid observable visual color change from blue to yellow.