Hydrogen sulfide determination by solid surface luminescence

In the analytical system suggested, atmospheric hydrogen sulfide reacts with the surface of a filter paper treated with aqueous cadmium chloride and yields a luminescent species whose intensity can be correlated with the analyte concentration in ambient air. It was shown that the luminescent species are CdS solid particles which were formed in a well defined size. The paper luminescence was also tried on polymeric surfaces; polyethyleneoxide, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose were found to give a similar luminescence signal. The system can be used on the tip of an optical fiber for an irreversible, cumulative type of analytical device for hydrogen sulfide determination. The 3s detection limit for the paper luminescence detection system was 7.8 ppb H₂S.