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Determination of bromate via the chemiluminescence generated in the sulfite and carbon quantum dot system

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Abstract

The authors describe a chemiluminescence (CL)-based assay for the determination of bromate. The method is based on the use of a solution of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and sulfite. Strong CL (peak at 490 nm) is observed when bromate is injected into the solution. The CL increases linearly in the 0.3 to 10 μmol L−1 bromate concentration range, giving a 0.1 μmol L−1 limit of detection (at an S/N ratio of 3). A possible CL mechanism is suggested that involves a redox reaction between the CQDs, bromate and sulfite in the acidic medium. This leads to the formation of hole-injected and electron-injected CQDs. Radiative recombination of oxidant-injected holes and electrons in the CQDs accounts for the occurrence of CL. This mechanism contradicts the previous assumption that the transfer of energy occurs from SO2* to the CQDs. Although nitrite may interfere in the determination of bromate, its effect can be eliminated by adding sulfamic acid. The assay is sensitive and represents a new tool for the determination of bromate, which is a carcinogen.

Under acidic condition, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can react with sulfite and bromate transforming to hole-injected CQDs (CQDs•–) and electron-injected CQDs (CQDs•+), respectively. Thereafter, strong chemiluminescence (490 nm) aroused from the radiative electron-hole annihilation between CQDs•– and CQDs•+.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81760601, 81260435 and 21265013), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (No. 20471BAB15050), the Social Development Project of Yunnan Province (No. 2013RA012) and the Innovation Fund Designated for Graduate Students of Nanchang University (No. cx2016372).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China

    Liping Li, Xiaojing Lai, Xin Xu, Jie Li, Ping Yuan, Jiangao Feng, Lijun Wei & Xianglei Cheng

  2. School of Public Health, Nanchang University, 461 Bayi Road, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China

    Liping Li, Xiaojing Lai, Xin Xu, Jie Li, Ping Yuan, Jiangao Feng, Lijun Wei & Xianglei Cheng

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Liping Li and Xiaojing Lai are co-first authors.

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Li, L., Lai, X., Xu, X. et al. Determination of bromate via the chemiluminescence generated in the sulfite and carbon quantum dot system. Microchim Acta 185, 136 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2653-x

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