Determination of riboflavin by enhancing the chemiluminescence intensity of peroxomonosulfate–cobalt(II) system

A weak chemiluminescent (CL) emission was observed in the decomposition of peroxomonosulfate (HSO5−), which would be accelerated in the presence of trace amounts of cobalt (II). The mechanism was due to the production of singlet oxygen (1O2). Interestedly, riboflavin can enhance the CL and the CL intensity was strongly dependent on riboflavin concentration. Based on this phenomenon, a flow injection analysis (FIA) CL method was established for the determination of riboflavin. Additionally, the possible CL mechanism is proposed based on the kinetic curve of the CL reaction, CL spectra, UV–vis spectra and fluorescent spectra. The CL intensity was correlated linearly with concentration of riboflavin over the range of 1.0 × 10−4 to 1.0 × 10−8 g mL−1; the detection limit was 9.0 × 10−9 g mL−1(S/N = 3); the relative standard deviation was 1.4% for 9 × 10−7 g mL−1 riboflavin (n = 11). Furthermore, this method was applied to the determination of riboflavin in real tablets and injections successfully.