Determination of cyanide using a chemiluminescence system composed of permanganate,rhodamine B,and gold nanoparticles

We describe a new chemiluminescence (CL) system based on the oxidation of rhodamine B (RhoB) with alkaline potassium permanganate in the presence of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) and anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate. Free RhoB is weakly chemiluminescent when oxidized with permanganate at alkaline pH values. However, a remarkably strong enhancement of CL is observed in the presence of Au-NPs, probably due to a strong interaction between RhoB and the NPs. The possible mechanism was studied via recording the CL emission. It is also found that the intensity of CL gradually decreases in the presence of cyanide due to its interaction with the Au-NPs. The relation between the decreased CL intensity and cyanide concentration was exploited to develop a method for the determination of cyanide in the 0.01–0.5 μM concentration range, with a detection limit of 2.8 nM. The method was used to determine cyanide in spiked water, urine, and serum.

Alkaline permanganate-rhodamine B-SDS CL reaction is dramatically enhanced by gold nanoparticles. Based on the inhibiting effect of cyanide on this system, a sensitive CL method was developed for its determination