A Sensitive Chemiluminescence Method for Cinchona Alkaloids

Abstract

Chemiluminescence (CL) was achieved by oxidation of sulphide with cerium(IV) in the presence of cinchona alkaloids (quinine, quinidine or cinchonine). The CL intensity was correlated with the concentration of each cinchona alkaloid. Based on this phenomenon, sensitive CL methods for these alkaloids were described. Quinine (4×10⁻⁸∼1×10⁻⁴ g/ml), quinidine (1×10⁻⁷ ∼ 1×10⁻³ g/ml) and cinchonine (1×10⁻⁶ ∼ 8×10⁻⁴ g/ml) could be determined with detection limits of 1×10⁻⁸ g/ml, 4×10⁻⁸ g/ml and 6×10⁻⁷ g/ml, respectively.

Key Words:

• Chemiluminescence
• Quinine
• quinidine
• cinchonine