Simultaneous determination of cadmium and zinc using a fiber optic device and fluorescence spectrometry

A reservoir type of optode is described for simultaneous and remote determi nation of Cd and Zn using [9-(1',4',7', 10',13'-pentaazacyclopentadecyl)met hylanthracene] as the fluorophore. Simultaneous analysis was achieved by th e significant perturbation in the fluorescence spectrum of the Cd-ligand co mplex while the Zn complex only results in enhancement in the fluorescence intensity as compared to ligand alone. The ion permeability of several memb ranes were examined; Nafion and cellophane were used for the construction o f the optode. Using the optode constructed with cellophane, for 20 min imme rsion time, the 3-s detection limits were found to be 4.5 mu g l(-1) for Cd and 0.6 mu g l(-1) for Zn. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.