Effect of oxidant type on the chemiluminescence intensity from the reaction of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) with various organic acids.

An investigation into the chemiluminescence of fourteen organic acids and tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) was undertaken. Particular emphasis was placed upon the method of production of the reagent, tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III), with cerium(IV) sulfate, potassium permanganate, lead dioxide and electrochemical generation. Analytically useful chemiluminescence was observed when Ce(IV) or potassium permanganate were employed as oxidants. The kinetics of analyte oxidation was related to the intensity of the chemiluminescence emission, which increased by three orders of magnitude for tartaric acid after 40h of oxidation.