Abstract
A spectrofluorometric assay for the determination of hypohalites and peroxyacids is described. Hypobromite and hypochlorite served as model hypohalites; peroxyacetic and peroxyproprionic acids were examples of peroxyacids. The method is based on the detection of fluorescence generated by the reaction of hypohalites with kojic acid. Peroxyacids did not react with kojic acid but oxidized bromide to hypobromite. Coupling this reaction to the reaction of hypobromite with kojic acid enabled fluorescent determination of peroxyacids. Peaks of fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths of the reaction products occurred at 395 and 495 nm, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide had no effect on assay results nor did it react with kojic acid per se unless peroxidase was present. In the latter case, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra were virtually identical to those from the hypohalite reaction, indicating molecular similarities of the component fluorophores.