KINETIC STUDIES OF THE TRYPTOPHAN TRIPLET STATE IN SOLID FILM AND IN WOOL KERATIN

Abstract— The triplet state of tryptophan in the solid environments of a polyvinyl alcohol) (PVA) film and the protein wool keratin has been studied by emission and absorption spectroscopy at room temperature. The decay kinetics of the triplet state vary depending on the conditions under which the study is made. The observation of second order kinetics suggests triplet-triplet interactions play a major role in the deactivation of the tryptophan triplet state in PVA films plasticised by the presence of water vapour. For wool keratin in the presence of air the major mechanism appears to be a first order reaction between tryptophan residues and oxygen. The actual effects of moisture and oxygen on the tryptophan triplet state are discussed.