Fluorescence analysis in air pollution research.

Luminescence phenomena are of value in the analysis of air pollutants. The problems arising in the use of excitation and emission spectra under various conditions are discussed. Phenomena such as solvent, pH, and photochemical effects are shown to play an important role in the fluorimetric analysis of air pollutants. Many of the fluorimetric methods used in the trace analysis of organic airborne particulates involve factors such as direct measurement of the separated pollutant on a chromatogram or pherogram, quenching phenomena, scanning, excimer formation, charge-transfer fluorescence, sensitized fluorescence, and photo-oxidation on adsorbent or in solution. In addition, fluorescence assay methods are discussed in terms of selectivity, sensitivity, speed, simplicity, accuracy, precision, interferences, and the relation between concentration and fluorescence intensity.