AUTOMATED 3-DIMENSIONAL PLOTTER FOR FLUORESCENCE MEASUREMENTS

The design and construction of an automated three-dimensional plotter for fluorescence measurements are described. The excitation and emission wavelengths form the abscissa and ordinate, respectively, and emission intensity is indicated by a series of isointensity contours similar to elevation levels on a topographic map. The device is used with a commercial spectrophotometer to rapidly record characteristic fiuorographs of fluorescent substances in such a way that the spectral band contours at selected emission intensities are displayed to reveal all the spectral parameters at their peak intensities. Three-dimensional fluorescence properties of a wide variety of biological compounds were displayed by the contour plotter to show the characteristic spectral patterns of the compounds: photosynthetlc pigments, proteins, polycyclic hydrocarbons, and crude oils. A stereofluorograph completely integrating all of the spectral characteristics can be constructed, and it is expected to be unique and quantitative for each substance. © 1978, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.