Chemiluminescence behavior of sodium hydrogen carbonate in the potassium permanganate-hydrogen peroxide reaction

Chemiluminescence (CL) phenomenon of hydrogen peroxide with potassium permanganate in the presence of sodium hydrogen carbonate was reported. Effects of the surfactant on the CL system were investigated. Nonionic surfactants could effectively increase the CL signal. Radical scavengers and organic reagents such as nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT), cytochrome c, sodium azide, ascorbic acid, thiourea, tert-butanol and dimethyl sulphoxide were used to study the emitting species. CL emission spectrum was recorded and the results showed that the maximal emission wavelengths of NaHCO3-H2O2-KMnO4 system were 440 and 634 nm. The mechanism was discussed based on electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra, fluorescence spectra and UV-vis absorption spectra. The addition of rhodamine B or uranine into this CL system enhanced the CL signal. It was due to part of the energy transfer from singlet oxygen and excited triplet dimers of two CO2 molecules to rhodamine B or uranine. The CL could be induced by excited rhodamine B or uranine.