Abstract:In this paper, a multi-branched colorimetric rhodamine triformylphloroglucinol hydrazone probe RbTP was prepared by condensation reaction between rhodamine hydrazide and 2,4,6-Triformylphloroglucinol. In aqueous acetone solution, the probe can quickly recognize Cu2+ with good sensitivity and anti-interference ability, whereas other ions including Ag+ , Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Co2+ and Hg2+ showed no such spectral change. There was a good linear relationship between the maximum absorption intensity and the volume of Cu2+ (0~36 μL). The limit of detection (LOD) for Cu2+ was estimated to be to 1.33?10-6 mol/L. After 5 times periodically alternating addition of Cu2+ and EDTA, the probe could still detect Cu2+ reversibly. The cyclic experiment and Job's Plot test confirmed that the reaction between RbTP and Cu2+ was through the complexation process and the stoichiometric ratio was 1:3.