Chemiluminescence flow sensor for the determination of ascorbic acid with immobilized reagents

A novel flow sensor based on chemiluminescence (CL) for the determination of ascorbic acid has been proposed. The analytical reagents, luminol and ferricyanide, were both immobilized on an anion-exchange resin column. The CL signal produced by the reaction between luminol and ferricyanide, which were eluted from the column through sodium phosphate injection, was decreased in the presence of ascorbic acid. The CL emission intensity was linear with ascorbic acid concentration in the range 0.01-0.8 mug ml(-1); the detection limit was 5.5 x 10(-3) mug ml(-1). The whole process, including sampling and washing, could be completed in 1 min with a relative standard deviation of less than 5%. The sensor could be reused more than 100 times and has been applied successfully to the analysis of ascorbic acid in pills and vegetables.