Carbon Dots-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Glyphosate Detection Via Fe 3+ -Mediated Fluorescence Quenching and Recovery

ions, with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.37 μM. This property was exploited to design an "off-on" sensor for the herbicide glyphosate. After a detailed optimization of parameters for glyphosate detection, which included the incubation time of ferric ions and glyphosate as well as the solutions pH, a LOD value of 0.59 μM was obtained, corresponding to concentrations significantly lower than the maximum allowable concentration by international standards. Finally, the developed sensor was applied to real tap water and urban stream samples, and the results showed its potential to be used in rapid, low-cost, and environmentally friendly tests, making it a promising alternative for monitoring the herbicide in aquatic environments.