Sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of aluminium(III) with Eriochrome Red B

A spectrofluorimetric method is reported for the determination of Al(III), based on the formation of a fluorescent Al(III)-Eriochrome Red B complex in the presence of hexamethylenetetramine at 60°C. Fluorescence measurements were made at 2°C and all variables that affect the development of the complex are reported. The method is very selective and the detection limit is 0.1 ng ml^?1. It was applied to the determination of Al(III) in tap water.