A new flow cell design for chemiluminiscence analysis

The present study proposes a new flow cell called a bundle cell for chemilu minescence analysis. The results obtained were compared with those achieved by manual and automated batch procedures and flow manifolds with different cells: an common quartz flow cell, a helix cell and the most used spiral c ell. Figures of merit such as limit of detection, sensitivity, accuracy and precision for the Cr(III) determination were established with light emissi on produced by catalysed Cr(III) luminol oxidation by hydrogen peroxide in a basic aqueous solution. An improvement in sensitivity about 50% as compar ed with the spiral cell and even larger with respect to the other flow cell s tested was observed. The limit of detection provided was lower than those obtained with the other flow cells. In reference to the batch mode, simila r results were obtained with the bundle flow cell. Good results were obtain ed for several real water samples containing chromium at different concentr ations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.