Synthesis of a novel chemiluminescent reagent for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in snow waters

7-(4,6-Dichloro-1,3,5-triazinylamino)-4-methylcoumarin (DTMC) was synthesiz ed as a completely new chemiluminescent reagent, and with it a novel chemil uminescence method was developed for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in the absence of any added catalyst or cooxidant. The chemiluminescence i ntensity of the DTMC-H2O2 system could be enhanced by the addition of catio n surfactants. The chemiluminescence intensity was directly proportional to the concentration of H2O2 in the range 1.0 x 10(-7)-4.0 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) , and the detection limit was 4.0 x 10(-8) mol l(-1). The relative S.D. was 4.9%, for 1.0 x 10(-6) mol l(-1) of H2O2 (n = 10). The selectivity of this method was high, and most of the transition metal ions have no effect on t he determination. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in snow water. A possible mechanism of the chemiluminescence reaction is also discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.