Investigation of fluorescence sensor matrices for environmental analyses.

摘要

The increasing demands associated with remediation efforts at hazardous waste sites subsequently increase the need for rapid and sensitive field screening methods. This research concentrates on the development of rapid, screening techniques using fluorescence for environmental analyses.;One class of the analytes studied is the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are ubiquitous environmental hazards, which are carcinogenic and toxic in nature. Enhanced photoactivated luminescence (EPL) is used to study some select PCB congeners. Three potential substrates were evaluated in these studies. The fluorescence characteristics of some select PCB congeners are described.;Another cause of environmental concern is aluminum (III). The amount of aluminum in the environment is gradually increasing because of the ecological mobilization caused by "acid rain". Al (III) is neurotoxic and phytotoxic. Aluminum ions react with chelating agents like morin to form fluorescent complexes. This chemistry was used to design a sol-gel based fiber-optic sensor using fluorescence to detect aluminum. This research demonstrates the potential of fluorescence as an environmental analysis tool.