Chemiluminescence determination of surfactant Triton X-100 in environmental water with luminol-hydrogen peroxide system.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The rapid, simple determination of surfactants in environmental samples is essential because of the extensive use and its potential as contaminants. We describe a simple, rapid chemiluminescence method for the direct determination of the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether) in environmental water samples. The optimized experimental conditions were selected, and the mechanism of the Luminol-H2O2-Triton X-100 chemiluminesence system was also studied. RESULTS: The novel chemiluminescence method for the determination of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 was based on the phenomenon that Triton X-100 greatly enhanced the CL signal of the luminol-H2O2 system. The alkaline medium of luminol and the pH value obviously affected the results. Luminol concentration and hydrogen peroxide concentration also affected the results. The optimal conditions were Na2CO3 being the medium, pH value 12.5, luminol concentration 1.0 x 10(-4) mol L(-1), H2O2 concentration 0.4 mol L(-1). The possible mechanism was studied and proposed. CONCLUSION: Under the optimal conditions, the standard curve was drawn up and quotas were evaluated. The linear range was 2 x 10(-4) g mL(-1)-4 x 10(-2) g mL(-1) (w/v), and the detection limit was 3.97 x 10-5 g mL(-1) Triton X-100 (w/v). The relative standard deviation was less than 4.73% for 2 x 10(-2) g mL(-1) (w/v) Triton X-100 (n = 7). This method has been applied to the determination of Triton X-100 in environmental water samples. The desirable recovery ratio was between 96%-102% and the relative standard deviation was 2.5%-3.3%. The luminescence mechanism was also discussed in detail based on the fluorescence spectrum and the kinetic curve, and demonstrated that Triton X-100-luminol-H2O2 was a rapid reaction.