Determination of traces of hydrogensulfite by chemiluminescence with cerium(IV) sulfate as the reagent

Trace amounts of hydrogensulfite in aqueous solution (0.19–50 ng ml^?1 SO₂) are determined continuously with a chemiluminescence method based on a cerium(IV) sulfate reagent at pH 1.8. The intensity per unit SO₂ concentration is about 5 times that obtained with a permanganate reagent. The inhibitory effects of nitrite, transition metal ions and formaldehyde are also reduced.