Determination of humic acid by chemiluminescence

The analytical utility of the chemiluminescence resulting from the reaction of humic acid with permanganate is investigated. The chemiluminescence response curve rises sharply to a peak value at about 0.5 s after mixing and decays somewhat more slowly. The peak signal for a fixed humic acid concentration is shown to pass through a maximum near a permanganate concentration of 17 μmol l^-1 and to increase continuously with potassium hydroxide concentration up to 2.0 mol l^-1. Calibration plots of peak signal vs. humic acid concentration exhibit complex behaviour, being approximately linear up to about 20 mg l^-1, curving slightly toward the concentration axis up to about 40 mg l^-1, and then curving away from the concentration axis above 40 mg l^-1. The detection limit for humic acid is about 0.7 mg l^-1. No interference is observed for thirteen common inorganic species at typical levels in water samples. Substantial differences are observed for humic acid in selected samples determined by the chemiluminescence and visible absorption procedures.