DETECTION OF SUBSTANCES WITH ALCOHOLIC OR PHENOLIC HYDROXYL-GROUPS BY GENERATION OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE WITH IMIDAZOLE AND PEROXYOXALATE CHEMILUMINESCENCE

On-line detection of substances with an alcoholic or phenolic hydroxyl group using imidazole and peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence was investigated qualitatively using a flow-injection method, The substances tested included six polyphenols, five monophenols and six sugars, After incubation at 80 degrees C with an imidazole buffer (pH 9.5) the substances were detected by peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence, The polyphenols tested (e.g., pyrogallol, purpurogallin, and dopamine) showed the strongest light emission, The sugars with hydroxyl groups (e.g., fructose and lactose) and the mono phenols (e.g., phenol, serotonin, and beta-estradiol) produced only a weak light emission, Reaction of hydroxyl compounds and imidazole generated hydrogen peroxide. Imidazole served two roles, it catalysed the reaction with the hydroxyl compound and initiated peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence on-line. A novel reactor formed by packing glass beads into a flow cell (Teflon) of a chemiluminometer improved the sensitivity of light detection.