STUDY OF THE CHEMILUMINESCENT CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME XANTHONE DYES

The chemiluminescent characteristics of the oxidation of some xanthone dyes were studied in detail. The chemiluminescence spectra of these d yes and the absorption and fluorescence spectra of some products of th e chemiluminescent reactions were investigated; all these dyes were st udied by the Huckel molecular orbital method. On the basis of these in vestigations, an initial explanation for the relationship between the structure of the dye molecules and their chemiluminescent behaviour an d a possible mechanism for this chemiluminescent reaction were propose d. The effects of various types of surfactants on the chemiluminescent reaction were also studied. The mechanism of the enhancement of chemi luminescence by surfactants is discussed. The catalysis of some metal ions was also examined, and it was found that trace Co(II) would catal yse the chemiluminescent reaction in the presence of the cationic surf actant cetyltrimethyrammonium bromide. The detection limit was 4-10 pg Co ml(-1), depending on the dye.