Determination of auramine O based on a carbon dot-enhanced chemiluminescence method

Abstract

We report a chemiluminescence (CL) method used for the determination of auramine O (AO), which was based on the cross-linked hollow carbon dots (HCDs)-enhanced ultra-weak CL reaction between H₂O₂ and Na₂CO₃. The effects of concentration and the mixing order of the reagents were studied. The CL intensity was proportional to the concentration of AO in the linear range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹, and the detection limit was 3.5 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. This method was successfully applied to the evaluation of AO in Rhizoma coptidis and Pollen Typhae with recoveries from 95% to 105%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 3.1% for seven repeated measurements of 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ AO. Based on the kinetic curve, the CL spectra, fluorescence spectra, UV-vis spectra and free radicals experiments, a possible CL mechanism has been briefly proposed.