FLUORESCENCE BEHAVIOR OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZOFURANS IN ORGANIZED MOLECULAR-SYSTEMS - ANALYTICAL APPLICATIONS

Fluorescence characteristics of several polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) of toxicological and environmental interest in the presence of cationic, anionic, neutral surfactants, alpha-cyclodextrin and beta-c yclodextrin were examined. The fluorescence enhancement of 2,3,7,8-tet rachlorodibenzofuran (TTCDF) in the presence of polyoxyethylene(10) la uryl ether (C(12)E(10)) medium was utilized to establish a sensitive s pectrofluorimetric method for determination of TTCDF. The optimization of variables as the concentration of surfactant, percentage of organi c solvent and temperature, and effect of possible interferences fi-om other PCDFs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCCDs), polychlorinate d biphenyls (PCBs) and Arochlors were investigated. The method, which has a detection limit of 1.30 ng ml(-1), has been applied to the deter mination of TTCDF in sea water with acceptable recoveries.