Determination of trace aluminum (III) using a novel cerium (IV)-calcein chemiluminescence detection

A simple, sensitive and selective chemiluminescence (CL) method was developed for the direct determination of aluminum (Al). This method is based on that the weak CL of cerium (IV)-calcein can be greatly enhanced by Al(III). The calibration curve was linear over the range 2.0 × 10−10 to 4.0 × 10−8 g mL−1 with a detection limit of 8 × 10−11 g mL−1 (3σ). The R.S.D. was 2.5% by 11 replicated determinations of 1.0 × 10−9 g mL−1 Al(III). The proposed method has been used to determine the concentration of Al(III) in real water samples with satisfactory results. The mechanism of the CL reaction was also discussed.