Harnessing the Dual Properties of Thiol-Grafted Cellulose Paper for Click Reactions: A Powerful Reducing Agent and Adsorbent for Cu.

A new approach exploiting the dual properties of thiol-grafted cellulose paper for promoting copper-catalyzed [3+2]-cycloadditions of organic azides with alkynes and adsorbing residual copper species in solution was developed. The thiol-grafted cellulose paper, used as a paper strip, effects the reduction of Cu to catalytically active Cu and acts as a powerful adsorbent for copper, thereby facilitating the work-up process and leaving the crude mixture almost free of copper residues after a single filtration.

A paper-based biomimetic device for the reduction of Cu(ii) to Cu(i) - application to the sensing of Cu(ii).

A biomimetic device for the reduction of Cu(ii) to Cu(i) consisting of thioglycolic acid covalently grafted to cellulose paper was developed. The device displays exceptionally fast reducing properties allowing the reduction of Cu(ii) in seconds and the formation of deeply colored Cu(i)-SCH2R complexes onto the cellulose paper. This biomimetic and biomaterial-based concept was exploited for the detection of copper in water samples with a limit of detection as low as 2 ppm.

Chemically-modified cellulose paper as smart sensor device for colorimetric and optical detection of hydrogen sulfate in water.

A portable, recyclable and highly selective paper-based sensor device for the colorimetric and optical detection of hydrogen sulfate anions in water was developed. The detection system features a rhodamine-based sensor covalently grafted onto the highly hydrophilic surface of cellulose paper.