Determination of some carbonyl carboxylic acids using chemiluminescent reaction of Ru(bipy)3 2+−Ce(IV)

A coupled chemiluminescence method for the determination of some carboxylic acids was developed, based on their enhancement the chemiluminescence light emission of the reaction of tirs (2,2′-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) and Ce(IV) in sulfuric acid medium. The conditions for their determination were optimized. The following detection limits were obtained: oxalic acid, 2.67×10−8 mol/L; propandioic acid, 1.20×10−6 mol/L; pyruvic acid, 1.35×10−8 mol/L; citric acid, 5.10×10−8 mol/L; barbituric acid, 2.48×10−7 mol/L. The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of oxalic acid. The coupled chemiluminescent reaction mechanism and rate equation are proposed.