Long-wavelength fluorescence polarization immunoassay for surfactant determination

A new homogeneous fluoroimmunoassay method based on the use of dynamic long-wavelength fluorescence polarization is presented here for the first time. This methodology, which is applied to the determination of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LASs) in water samples, involves the use of a new long-wavelength tracer synthesized from the oxazine dye Nile Blue (NB) via a carbodiimide method. This tracer exhibits fluorescent properties at λex 626 and λem 674 nm. The variation of fluorescence polarization with time is followed using the T-format configuration of the spectrofluorimeter and the analytical parameter used is the initial rate, which is measured in only 0.7 s. The dynamic range of the calibration graph is 0.05–4.7 mg/L, with a detection limit of 0.03 mg/L. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation was assayed at 0.05 and 1 mg/L, giving values in the range 7.6–9.1%. Other anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants were tolerated at much higher concentration levels than that of the analyte. The method has proven its practical usefulness for the analysis of water samples, in which only a solid phase extraction step is necessary. Recoveries ranged from 80.8 to 119.8%, with a mean value of 100.8%.