Kinetics of Oxy-chemiluminescence and Its Use in the Analysis of Antioxidants

The influence of the antioxidant (chroman C₁, a synthetic analog of tocopherol) on the chemiluminescence kinetics during diphenylmethane and cumene oxidation is studied. Principles are considered for choosing a standard oxidized mixture in which the concentration and reactivity of an antioxidant are determined most reliably. The results of exact computer simulations and analytical calculations assuming quasi-stationarity with respect to different types of radicals are compared. A strategy is proposed to interpret the results and choose the experimental conditions (model oxidation system, type of hydrocarbon, interval of initiation rates) under which the antioxidant concentration and reactivity can be determined most reliably. The chemiluminescence method is used to study natural antioxidants in sunflower and corn oil.