[Spectrophotofluorimetric determination of trace nitrite with safranine T]

A new fluorescence quenching method has been developed to determine nitrite in water samples. The method is based on the diazo-reaction between nitrite ion and safranine T in hydrochloric acid medium. The fluorescence intensity was measured at excitation and emission wavelengths of 525.0 and 556.0 nm, respectively. The optimum experimental conditions have been confirmed and the concentration of hydrochloric acid was 0.096 mol.L-1; the reaction time was 10 min. Under the selected conditions, the relationship was obtained between the fluorescence intensity and nitrite concentration in the range 4-200 x 10(-9) g.mL-1 NO2-. The detection limit was 4 x 10(-9) g.mL-1 NO2-. The method was applied to determine trace nitrite in water samples. The mechanism involved in the reaction was discussed.