Spectrophotometric determination of indoles using a modification of the ehrlich colour reaction
Authors:
P. Byrom and J. H. Turnbull
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Metallurgy, Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, Wiltshire, England
Abstract:
A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of indole (1 μg/ml) in aqueous solution is described. It is also applicable to certain 3-substituted indoles. The method employs p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in aqueous trifluoracetic acid. With indoles this reagent gives stable colours which are more intense than those obtained in the conventional Ehrlich reaction. Factors affecting fading of the indole colour are discussed.