Examination of dodecylpyridinium chloride as a potentially selective fluorescence quenching agent for discriminating between alternant versus nonalternant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Fluorescence behavior is reported for 13 alternant and 12 nonalternant poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) dissolved in aqueous micellar cetyltrim ethylammonium chloride (CTAC) + dodecylpyridinium chloride (DDPC) and sodiu m dodecylsulfate (SDS) + DDPC mixed surfactant solvent media. Experimental measurements indicate that the dodecylpyridinium cation selectively quenche s fluorescence emission of alternant PAHs. Emission intensities of nonalter nant PAHs, with a few noted exceptions, essentially remain constant, irresp ective of both DDPC concentration and cosurfactant headgroup charge. (C) 19 99 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.