Development and construction of an analyser for the determination of the hydrogen peroxide content of natural water using a chemiluminescent reaction

Abstract

The development and construction of a portable analyser for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in natural water using the chemiluminescent reaction of luminol (3-aminophthalhydrazide) and hydrogen peroxide with potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) as the catalyst is described. The method is simple and rapid and interfering organic compounds present in the water can be removed by dialysis. The apparatus can be powered by a 12-V car battery and is capable of determining hydrogen peroxide at concentrations as low as 0.02 mg l–1.