Spectrofluorimetric determination of trace amounts of aluminium with 5-bromo-salicylaldehyde salicyloylhydrazone

The fluorescent reagent 5-bromo-salicylaldehyde salicyloylhydrazone (5-Br-SASH) was synthesized and its ionization constants were established spectrophotometrically. The fluorescent reaction of this reagent with aluminium was studied. Based on this chelation reaction, a spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of aluminium in acetic acid-ammonium acetate buffer solution of pH 5.4. Under these conditions, the Al-5-Br-SASH complex has excitation and emission maxima at 370 and 460 nm, respectively. The linear range of the method is from 0 to 120 ppb and the detection limit is 1.1 ppb of aluminium. The molar ratio of aluminium to the reagent is 1:3. Interferences of other ions were studied. The method was successfully applied to the determination of aluminium in glucose injection and common beverages.