Spectrofluorimetry
or
fluorimetry
History
The term fluorescence comes from the mineral
fluorspar (calcium fluoride) when Sir George G.
Stokes observed in 1852 that fluorspar would
give off visible light (fluoresce) when exposed to
electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet
wavelength.
Luminescence is the emission of light by a
substance. It occurs when an electron returns to
the electronic ground state from an excited state
and loses its excess energy as a photon
LUMINESCENCE
FLUORESCENCE
PHOSPHORESCENCE
SPECTROSCOPY
CHEMILUMINESCENCE
LUMINESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
Absorption first -
Followed by emission
in all directions, usually
at a lower frequency
LUMINESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
• In favorable cases, luminescence
methods are amongst some of the most
sensitive and selective of analytical
methods available.
• Detection Limits are as a general rule at
ppm levels for absorption
spectrophotometry and ppb levels for
luminescence methods.
• When a beam of light is incident on certain
substances they emit visible light or
radiations. This is known as fluorescence.
• Fluorescence starts immediately after the
absorption of light and stops as soon as the
incident light is cut off.
• The substances showing this phenomenon
are known as flourescent substances.
• When light radiation is incident on certain
substances they emit light continuously even
after the incident light is cut off.
• This type of delayed fluorescence is called
phosphorescence.
• Substances showing phosphorescence are
phosphorescent substances.
• Chemiluminescence is based upon emission of light
from an excited species formed as a result of a chemical
reaction.
• Collectively, fluorescence and phosphorescence are
known as photoluminescence
• Fluorimetry is the most commonly used luminescence
method.
• Phosphorimetry usually requires at liquid nitrogen
temperatures (77K).
• The terms fluorimetry and fluorometry are used
interchangeably in the chemical literature.
Energy Level Diagram
s2
SINGLET STATES TRIPLET STATES
Ground
State
s1
T
T
1
2
INTERSYSTEM
CROSSING
VIBRATIONAL
RELAXATION
FLUORESCENCE PHOSPHORESCENCE
INTERNAL
CONVERSION CONVERSION
INTERNAL
   
• Following absorption of radiation, the molecule can lose the
absorbed energy by several pathways.
• One competing process is vibrational relaxation which involves
transfer of energy to neighbouring molecules which is very rapid
in solution (10-13 sec).
• In the gas phase, molecules suffer fewer collisions and it is more
common to see the emission of a photon equal in energy to that
absorbed in a process known as resonance fluorescence.
• In solution, the molecule rapidly relaxes to the lowest vibrational
energy level of the electronic state resulting due to internal
conversion which shifts the molecule from S2 to an excited
vibrational energy level in S1.
• Following internal conversion, the molecule loses further energy
by vibrational relaxation. Because of internal conversion and
vibrational relaxation, most molecules in solution will decay to
the lowest vibrational energy level of the lowest singlet electronic
state before any radiation is emitted.
• When the molecule has reached the lowest vibrational energy
level of the lowest singlet electronic energy level then a
number of events can take place.
• the molecule can lose energy by internal conversion without
loss of a photon of radiation (least likely).
• the molecule can emit a photon of radiation equal in energy to
the difference in energy between the singlet electronic level
and the ground-state, this is termed fluorescence.
• the molecule can undergo intersystem crossing which involves
an electron spin flip from the singlet state into a triplet state.
• Following this the molecule decays to the lowest vibrational
energy level of the triplet state by vibrational relaxation.
• the molecule can then emit a photon of radiation equal to the
energy difference between the lowest triplet energy level and
the ground-state in a process known as phosphorescence.
Fluorescence & Phosphorescence
• In fluorescence, the lifetime of the
molecule in the excited singlet state is
10-9 to 10-7 sec.
• In phosphorescence, the lifetime in the
excited singlet state is 10-6 to 10 sec
(because a transition from T1 to the
ground state is spin forbidden).
the principle of spectrofluorometer
• It is an analytical device depends on the fluorescence
phenomenon which is a short-lived type of
photoluminescence created by electromagnetic
excitation.
• That is, fluorescence is generated when a molecule
transmits from its ground state So to one of several
vibrational energy levels in the first excited electronic
state, S1, or the second electronic excited state, S2,
both of which are singlet states.
• Relaxation to the ground state from these excited
states occurs by emission of energy through heat
and/or photons.
• The difference between the excitation and
emission wavelengths is called the Stokes
shift.
• Stokes’ studies of fluorescent substances led
to the formulation of Stokes’ Law, which
states that the wavelength of fluorescent light
is always greater than that of the exciting
radiation. Thus, for any fluorescent molecule,
the wavelength of emission is always longer
than the wavelength of absorption.
Classification
• Based on the wavelength of emitted radiation
when compared to absorbed radiation
– Stokes fluorescence: wavelength of emitted
radiation is longer than absorbed radiation
– Anti-stokes’s fluorescence: wavelength of emitted
radiation is shorter than absorbed radiation.
– Resonance fluorescence: wavelength of emitted
radiation is equal to that of absorbed radiation.
FLUORESCENCE AND
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE
Fluorescence is most commonly observed in
compounds containing aromatic functional
groups with low energy.
Most unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons show
fluorescence - quantum efficiency increases with
the no: of rings and degree of condensation.
CONTD…
Simple heterocyclic do not exhibit
fluorescence.
Fusion of heterocyclic nucleus to benzene ring
increases fluorescence.
Substitution on the benzene ring shifts
wavelength of absorbance maxima and
corresponding changes in fluorescence
peaks
 Fluorescence decreases with
increasing atomic no: of the
halogen.
 Substitution of carboxylic acid or
carboxylic group on aromatic
ring inhibits fluorescence.
 Fluorescence is favored in molecules with
structural rigidity.
 organic chelating agents complexed with
metal ion increases fluorescence.
• Experimentally it is found that fluorescence is
favoured in rigid molecules, eg.,
phenolphthalein and fluorescein are
structurally similar as shown below. However,
fluorescein shows a far greater fluorescence
quantum efficiency because of its rigidity.
phenolphthalein
• It is thought that the extra rigidity
imparted by the bridging oxygen group in
Fluorescein reduces the rate of
nonradiative relaxation so that emission
by fluorescence has sufficient time to
occur.
Fluorescein
Fluorescence Spectra
• Photoluminescence spectra are recorded by
measuring the intensity of emitted radiation as a
function of either the excitation wavelength or
the emission wavelength.
• The excitation spectra is determined by
measuring the emission intensity at a fixed
wavelength , while varying the excitation
wavelength. It is useful for selecting the best
excitation wavelength for a quantitative or
qualitative analysis.
• The emission spectra is determined by
measuring the variation in emission intensity
wavelength for a fixed excitation wavelength.
What is The fluorescence quantum yield (Φf)?
• It is the quantitative expression of the
fluorescence efficiency, which is the
fraction of excited molecules returning to
the ground state by fluorescence.
• Quantum yields range from 1, when every
molecule in an excited state undergoes
fluorescence, to 0 when fluorescence does
not occur.
• A molecule’s fluorescence quantum yield is
influenced by external Variables such as:
• temperature
• viscosity of solvent
• pH
• Increasing temperature generally decreases Φf
because more frequent collisions between the
molecule and the solvent increases external
conversion.
• Decreasing the solvent’s viscosity decreases Φf
for similar reasons.
• For an analyte with acidic or basic functional
groups, a change in pH may change the analyte’s
structure and, therefore, its fluorescent
properties.
What can specrofluorometer do?
• It has been used for the direct or indirect
quantitative and qualitative analysis by
measuring the fluorescent intensity F.
• It is relatively inexpensive and sensitive (the
sensitivity of fluorescence is approximately
1,000 times greater than absorption
spectrophotometric methods).
• fluorescent intensity F is dependent on both
intrinsic properties of the compound
(fluorescence quantum yield Φf), and on readily
controlled experimental parameters including:
• intensity of the absorbed light I0
• molar absorption coefficient Ɛ
• path length of the cell b
• concentration of the fluorophor in solution c
• At low concentrations of fluorophore, the
fluorescence intensity of a sample is
essentially linearly proportional to
concentration.
• However, as the concentration increases, a
point is reached at which the intensity
increase is progressively less linear, and the
intensity eventually decreases as
concentration increases further.
fluorescence intensity
concentrations
• The most common reason for this is Inner
filter effect that, as the concentration of the
sample increases, the light intensity
experienced by some of the fluorescent
molecules is lower than that experienced by
others. When excitation intensity decreases,
so does fluorescence emission intensity.
• It is generally necessary to use
concentrations that result in absorbance
values of 0.1 or lower to observe
concentration dependent emission.
• As the concentration of molecules in a solution
increases, probability increases that excited
molecules will interact with each other and lose
energy through processes other than fluorescent
emission. Any process that reduces the probability of
fluorescent emission is known as quenching.
• Other parameters that can cause quenching include:
• presence of impurities
• increased temperature
• reduced viscosity of the solution media
Decrease in fluorescence intensity due to specific
effects of constituents of the solution.
Due to concentration, ph, pressure of chemical
substances, temperature, viscosity, etc.
Types of quenching
Self quenching
Chemical quenching
Static quenching
Collision quenching
Fluorescence
Concentration of
fluorescing species
Deviations at higher concentrations can be attributed
to self-quenching or self-absorption.
Fluorescence
Concentration of
fluorescing species
Calibration curve
(Low con)
calibration curve
(High con)
Here decrease in fluorescence intensity due to
the factors like change in pH, presence of oxygen,
halides &heavy metals.
 pH- aniline at pH 5-13 gives fluorescence but
at pH <5 &>13 it does not exhibit fluorescence.
 halides like chloride,bromide,iodide & electron
withdrawing groups like NO2,COOH etc. leads to
quenching.
 Heavy metals leads to quenching, because of
collisions of triplet ground state.
This occurs due to complex formation.
e.g.. caffeine reduces the fluorescence of
riboflavin by complex formation.
COLLISIONAL QUENCHING
It reduces fluorescence by collision. where no. of
collisions increased hence quenching takes place.
Factors affecting fluorescence intensity
• Conjugation: molecule must have conjugation ( π electron) so
that uv/vis radiation can be absorbed
• Nature of substituent groups:
– e- donating groups like NH2, OH groups enhance fluorescence.
– e- withdrawing groups like NO2, COOH reduce fluorescence.
• Fluorescent intensity is directly proportional to concentration.
• Increase in viscosity leads to decreased collisions of molecules
there by increasing fluorescent intensity.
• More rigid the structure of molecule, more the intensity of
fluorescence.
• Increase in temp leads to increased collisions b/w molecules
decreasing fluorescent intensity.
• Presence of O2 decreases the fluorescence and so de-aerated
solutions must be used and compare result obtained from that
of O2 containing solution.
INSTRUMENTATION
SOURCE OF LIGHT
FILTERS AND MONOCHROMATORS
SAMPLE CELLS
DETECTORS
Components of
fluorimeters and spectrofluorimeters
Spectrophotometer V/S Spectroflorimeter
• The fluorescence is often viewed at 90° orientation (in order to
minimise interference from radiation used to excite the
fluorescence).
• Spectroflorimeter has two monochromators
• As fluorescence is maximum between 25-30˚C, the sample holder
has the device to maintain the temperature
MERCURY ARC LAMP.
XENON ARC LAMP.
TUNGSTEN LAMP.
TUNABLE DYE LASERS.
Sources of light
In fluorimeter 10 filter (absorb Vis. radiation and
transmit UV radiation) and 20 filter (absorb UV
radiation and transmit Vis. radiation) are present.
In spectrofluorometers, excitation monochromators
(isolates only the radiation which is absorbed by the
molecule) and emission monochromator (isolates
only the radiation which is emitted by the molecule)
are present.
Filters and Monochromators
Sample and sample holder
The majority of fluorescence assays are
carried out in solution.
Cylindrical or rectangular cells fabricated of
silica or glass used.
Path length is usually 10mm or 1cm.
All the surfaces of the sample holder are
polished in fluorimetry.
Detectors
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL
PHOTO TUBE
PHOTOMULTIPLIER TUBES – Best
and accurate.
Read out devices
The output from the detector is amplified
and displayed on a readout device which
may be a meter or digital display.
Microprocessor electronics provide
outputs directly compatible with printer
systems and computers, eliminating any
possibility of operator error in
transferring data.
SINGLE BEAM FLUORIMETER
DOUBLE BEAM FLUORIMETER
SPECTROFLUORIMETER(DOUBLE
BEAM)
 Source of light.
 The primary filter absorbs visible radiation and transmits
UV radiation.
 Emitted radiation measured at 90o by secondary filter.
 Secondary filter absorbs UV radiation and transmits
visible radiation.
Advantages
• Simple in construction
• Easy to use.
• Economical
Disadvantages
• It is not possible to use reference solution & sample solution
at a time.
• Rapid scanning to obtain Exitation & emission spectrum of the
compound is not possible.
Lamp
Primary
filter
Secondary
Filter
Photo
Multiplier
tube
I0
Ie
It
Similar to single beam instrument.
Two incident beams from light source pass through
primary filters separately and fall on either sample
or reference solution.
The emitted radiation from sample or reference pass
separately through secondary filter.
Advantages
• Sample & reference solution can be analyzed
simultaneously.
Disadvantages
• Rapid scanning is not possible due to use of filters.
 The primary filter in double beam fluorimeter is
replaced by excitation monochromaters.
 The secondary filter is replaced by emission
monochromaters.
 The incident beam is split into sample and
reference beam using a beam splitter.
 The detector is photomultiplier tube.
SPECTROFLUORIMETER
Advantages
• Rapid scanning to get Exitation & emission
spectrum.
• More sensitive and accuracy when compared to
filter fluorimeter.
• Advantages of fluorescence spectroscopy:
SENSITIVITY : It is more sensitive as concentration is low
as µg/ml or ng/ml.
PRECISION : Upto 1 % can be achieved.
SPECIFICITY : More specific than absorption method
where absorption maxima may be same for two
compounds.
RANGE OF APPLICATION : Even non fluorescent
compounds can also be converted to fluorescent
compounds by chemical compounds.
• Disadvantages:
Not useful for identification
Not all compounds fluorescence
Contamination can quench the fluorescence and hence
give false/no results
Environmental Significance:
• To detect environmental pollutants such as polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons:
• pyrene
• benzopyrene
• organothiophosphorous pesticides
• carbamate insecticides
• Generally used to carry out qualitative as well as quantitative analysis for
a great aromatic compounds present in cigarette smoking, air pollutant
concentrates & automobile exhausts
Geology:
• Many types of calcite and amber will fluoresce under
shortwave UV. Rubies, emeralds, and the Diamond
exhibit red fluorescence under short-wave UV light;
diamonds also emit light under X ray radiation.
Applications of Spectrofluorometer:
Analytical chemistry:
• to detect compounds from HPLC flow
• TLC plates can be visualized if the compounds or a
coloring reagent is fluorescent
• Plant pigments, steroids, proteins, naphthols etc can
be determined at low concentrations
Biochemistry:
• used generally as a non-destructive way of tracking or
analysis of biological molecules (proteins)
• Possible direct or indirect analysis aromatic amino
acids (phenylalanine- tyrosine-tryptophan)
• Fingerprints can be visualized with fluorescent
compounds such as ninhydrin.
 Medicine
• Blood and other substances are sometimes detected by
fluorescent reagents, particularly where their location was not
previously known.
• There has also been a report of its use in differentiating malignant,
bashful skin tumors from benign.
 Pharmacy:
• Possible direct or indirect analysis drugs such as:
• vitamins (vitamin A -vitamin B2 -vitamin B6 -vitamin B12 -vitamin E
-folic acid)
• catecholamines (dopamine-norepinephrine)
• Other drugs (quinine-salicylic acid–morphine-barbiturates –lysergic
acid diethylamide (LSD))
• to measure the amount of impurities present in the sample.
Fluorescent indicators
• Intensity and colour of the fluorescence of many
substances depend upon the pH of solutions. These
are called as fluorescent indicators and are generally
used in acid base titrations.
• Eg: Eosin – pH 3.0-4.0 – colourless to green
Fluorescien – pH 4.0-6.0 – colourless to green
Quinine sulphate: blue-violet.
Acridine: green-violet
APPLICATIONS
EX 1. Determination of polyaromatic
hydrocarbons
– Benzo[a]pyrene is a product of incomplete
combustion and found in coal tar.
• Benzo[a]pyrene, is a 5-
ring polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon that is
mutagenic and highly
carcinogenic
• It is found in tobacco
smoke and tar
• The epoxide of this
molecule intercalates in
DNA, covalently bonding
to the guanine base
nucleotide
Excitation and
fluorescence spectra for
benzo(a)pyrene in H2SO4.
In the diagram the solid
line is the excitation
spectrum (the
fluorescence signal is
measured at 545 nm as
the exciting wavelength
is varied). The dashed
line is the fluorescence
spectrum (the exciting
wavelength is fixed at
520 nm while the
wavelength of collected
fluorescence is varied).
Benzo(a)pyrene
EX 2. Fluorimetric Drug
Analysis
• Many drugs possess high
quantum efficiency for
fluorescence. For example,
quinine can be detected at
levels below 1 ppb.
Quinine
• In addition to ethical
drugs such as quinine,
many drugs of abuse
fluoresce directly. For
example lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD)
whose structure is:
LSD
• Because LSD is active in minute quantities, an extremely
sensitive methods of analysis is required. Fluorimetricaly LSD
is usually determined in urine from a sample of about 5mL in
volume. The sample is made alkaline and the LSD is
extracted into an organic phase consisting of n-heptane and
amyl alcohol. This is a "clean-up" procedure that removes
potential interferents and increases sensitivity. The LSD is
then back-extracted into an acid solution and measured
directly using and excitation wavelength of 335 nm and a
fluorescence wavelength of 435 nm. The limit of detection is
approximately 1 ppb.

Spectrofluorimetry or fluorimetry (www.Redicals.com)

  • 1.
  • 2.
    History The term fluorescencecomes from the mineral fluorspar (calcium fluoride) when Sir George G. Stokes observed in 1852 that fluorspar would give off visible light (fluoresce) when exposed to electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet wavelength.
  • 3.
    Luminescence is theemission of light by a substance. It occurs when an electron returns to the electronic ground state from an excited state and loses its excess energy as a photon LUMINESCENCE FLUORESCENCE PHOSPHORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY CHEMILUMINESCENCE
  • 4.
    LUMINESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY Absorption first- Followed by emission in all directions, usually at a lower frequency
  • 5.
    LUMINESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY • Infavorable cases, luminescence methods are amongst some of the most sensitive and selective of analytical methods available. • Detection Limits are as a general rule at ppm levels for absorption spectrophotometry and ppb levels for luminescence methods.
  • 6.
    • When abeam of light is incident on certain substances they emit visible light or radiations. This is known as fluorescence. • Fluorescence starts immediately after the absorption of light and stops as soon as the incident light is cut off. • The substances showing this phenomenon are known as flourescent substances.
  • 7.
    • When lightradiation is incident on certain substances they emit light continuously even after the incident light is cut off. • This type of delayed fluorescence is called phosphorescence. • Substances showing phosphorescence are phosphorescent substances.
  • 8.
    • Chemiluminescence isbased upon emission of light from an excited species formed as a result of a chemical reaction. • Collectively, fluorescence and phosphorescence are known as photoluminescence • Fluorimetry is the most commonly used luminescence method. • Phosphorimetry usually requires at liquid nitrogen temperatures (77K). • The terms fluorimetry and fluorometry are used interchangeably in the chemical literature.
  • 9.
    Energy Level Diagram s2 SINGLETSTATES TRIPLET STATES Ground State s1 T T 1 2 INTERSYSTEM CROSSING VIBRATIONAL RELAXATION FLUORESCENCE PHOSPHORESCENCE INTERNAL CONVERSION CONVERSION INTERNAL    
  • 11.
    • Following absorptionof radiation, the molecule can lose the absorbed energy by several pathways. • One competing process is vibrational relaxation which involves transfer of energy to neighbouring molecules which is very rapid in solution (10-13 sec). • In the gas phase, molecules suffer fewer collisions and it is more common to see the emission of a photon equal in energy to that absorbed in a process known as resonance fluorescence. • In solution, the molecule rapidly relaxes to the lowest vibrational energy level of the electronic state resulting due to internal conversion which shifts the molecule from S2 to an excited vibrational energy level in S1. • Following internal conversion, the molecule loses further energy by vibrational relaxation. Because of internal conversion and vibrational relaxation, most molecules in solution will decay to the lowest vibrational energy level of the lowest singlet electronic state before any radiation is emitted.
  • 12.
    • When themolecule has reached the lowest vibrational energy level of the lowest singlet electronic energy level then a number of events can take place. • the molecule can lose energy by internal conversion without loss of a photon of radiation (least likely). • the molecule can emit a photon of radiation equal in energy to the difference in energy between the singlet electronic level and the ground-state, this is termed fluorescence. • the molecule can undergo intersystem crossing which involves an electron spin flip from the singlet state into a triplet state. • Following this the molecule decays to the lowest vibrational energy level of the triplet state by vibrational relaxation. • the molecule can then emit a photon of radiation equal to the energy difference between the lowest triplet energy level and the ground-state in a process known as phosphorescence.
  • 13.
    Fluorescence & Phosphorescence •In fluorescence, the lifetime of the molecule in the excited singlet state is 10-9 to 10-7 sec. • In phosphorescence, the lifetime in the excited singlet state is 10-6 to 10 sec (because a transition from T1 to the ground state is spin forbidden).
  • 14.
    the principle ofspectrofluorometer • It is an analytical device depends on the fluorescence phenomenon which is a short-lived type of photoluminescence created by electromagnetic excitation. • That is, fluorescence is generated when a molecule transmits from its ground state So to one of several vibrational energy levels in the first excited electronic state, S1, or the second electronic excited state, S2, both of which are singlet states. • Relaxation to the ground state from these excited states occurs by emission of energy through heat and/or photons.
  • 16.
    • The differencebetween the excitation and emission wavelengths is called the Stokes shift. • Stokes’ studies of fluorescent substances led to the formulation of Stokes’ Law, which states that the wavelength of fluorescent light is always greater than that of the exciting radiation. Thus, for any fluorescent molecule, the wavelength of emission is always longer than the wavelength of absorption.
  • 17.
    Classification • Based onthe wavelength of emitted radiation when compared to absorbed radiation – Stokes fluorescence: wavelength of emitted radiation is longer than absorbed radiation – Anti-stokes’s fluorescence: wavelength of emitted radiation is shorter than absorbed radiation. – Resonance fluorescence: wavelength of emitted radiation is equal to that of absorbed radiation.
  • 18.
    FLUORESCENCE AND CHEMICAL STRUCTURE Fluorescenceis most commonly observed in compounds containing aromatic functional groups with low energy. Most unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons show fluorescence - quantum efficiency increases with the no: of rings and degree of condensation.
  • 19.
    CONTD… Simple heterocyclic donot exhibit fluorescence.
  • 20.
    Fusion of heterocyclicnucleus to benzene ring increases fluorescence.
  • 21.
    Substitution on thebenzene ring shifts wavelength of absorbance maxima and corresponding changes in fluorescence peaks  Fluorescence decreases with increasing atomic no: of the halogen.  Substitution of carboxylic acid or carboxylic group on aromatic ring inhibits fluorescence.
  • 22.
     Fluorescence isfavored in molecules with structural rigidity.  organic chelating agents complexed with metal ion increases fluorescence.
  • 23.
    • Experimentally itis found that fluorescence is favoured in rigid molecules, eg., phenolphthalein and fluorescein are structurally similar as shown below. However, fluorescein shows a far greater fluorescence quantum efficiency because of its rigidity. phenolphthalein
  • 24.
    • It isthought that the extra rigidity imparted by the bridging oxygen group in Fluorescein reduces the rate of nonradiative relaxation so that emission by fluorescence has sufficient time to occur. Fluorescein
  • 25.
    Fluorescence Spectra • Photoluminescencespectra are recorded by measuring the intensity of emitted radiation as a function of either the excitation wavelength or the emission wavelength. • The excitation spectra is determined by measuring the emission intensity at a fixed wavelength , while varying the excitation wavelength. It is useful for selecting the best excitation wavelength for a quantitative or qualitative analysis. • The emission spectra is determined by measuring the variation in emission intensity wavelength for a fixed excitation wavelength.
  • 27.
    What is Thefluorescence quantum yield (Φf)? • It is the quantitative expression of the fluorescence efficiency, which is the fraction of excited molecules returning to the ground state by fluorescence. • Quantum yields range from 1, when every molecule in an excited state undergoes fluorescence, to 0 when fluorescence does not occur.
  • 28.
    • A molecule’sfluorescence quantum yield is influenced by external Variables such as: • temperature • viscosity of solvent • pH • Increasing temperature generally decreases Φf because more frequent collisions between the molecule and the solvent increases external conversion. • Decreasing the solvent’s viscosity decreases Φf for similar reasons. • For an analyte with acidic or basic functional groups, a change in pH may change the analyte’s structure and, therefore, its fluorescent properties.
  • 29.
    What can specrofluorometerdo? • It has been used for the direct or indirect quantitative and qualitative analysis by measuring the fluorescent intensity F. • It is relatively inexpensive and sensitive (the sensitivity of fluorescence is approximately 1,000 times greater than absorption spectrophotometric methods).
  • 30.
    • fluorescent intensityF is dependent on both intrinsic properties of the compound (fluorescence quantum yield Φf), and on readily controlled experimental parameters including: • intensity of the absorbed light I0 • molar absorption coefficient Ɛ • path length of the cell b • concentration of the fluorophor in solution c
  • 31.
    • At lowconcentrations of fluorophore, the fluorescence intensity of a sample is essentially linearly proportional to concentration. • However, as the concentration increases, a point is reached at which the intensity increase is progressively less linear, and the intensity eventually decreases as concentration increases further.
  • 32.
  • 33.
    • The mostcommon reason for this is Inner filter effect that, as the concentration of the sample increases, the light intensity experienced by some of the fluorescent molecules is lower than that experienced by others. When excitation intensity decreases, so does fluorescence emission intensity. • It is generally necessary to use concentrations that result in absorbance values of 0.1 or lower to observe concentration dependent emission.
  • 34.
    • As theconcentration of molecules in a solution increases, probability increases that excited molecules will interact with each other and lose energy through processes other than fluorescent emission. Any process that reduces the probability of fluorescent emission is known as quenching. • Other parameters that can cause quenching include: • presence of impurities • increased temperature • reduced viscosity of the solution media
  • 35.
    Decrease in fluorescenceintensity due to specific effects of constituents of the solution. Due to concentration, ph, pressure of chemical substances, temperature, viscosity, etc. Types of quenching Self quenching Chemical quenching Static quenching Collision quenching
  • 36.
    Fluorescence Concentration of fluorescing species Deviationsat higher concentrations can be attributed to self-quenching or self-absorption. Fluorescence Concentration of fluorescing species Calibration curve (Low con) calibration curve (High con)
  • 37.
    Here decrease influorescence intensity due to the factors like change in pH, presence of oxygen, halides &heavy metals.  pH- aniline at pH 5-13 gives fluorescence but at pH <5 &>13 it does not exhibit fluorescence.  halides like chloride,bromide,iodide & electron withdrawing groups like NO2,COOH etc. leads to quenching.  Heavy metals leads to quenching, because of collisions of triplet ground state.
  • 38.
    This occurs dueto complex formation. e.g.. caffeine reduces the fluorescence of riboflavin by complex formation. COLLISIONAL QUENCHING It reduces fluorescence by collision. where no. of collisions increased hence quenching takes place.
  • 39.
    Factors affecting fluorescenceintensity • Conjugation: molecule must have conjugation ( π electron) so that uv/vis radiation can be absorbed • Nature of substituent groups: – e- donating groups like NH2, OH groups enhance fluorescence. – e- withdrawing groups like NO2, COOH reduce fluorescence. • Fluorescent intensity is directly proportional to concentration. • Increase in viscosity leads to decreased collisions of molecules there by increasing fluorescent intensity. • More rigid the structure of molecule, more the intensity of fluorescence. • Increase in temp leads to increased collisions b/w molecules decreasing fluorescent intensity. • Presence of O2 decreases the fluorescence and so de-aerated solutions must be used and compare result obtained from that of O2 containing solution.
  • 40.
    INSTRUMENTATION SOURCE OF LIGHT FILTERSAND MONOCHROMATORS SAMPLE CELLS DETECTORS Components of fluorimeters and spectrofluorimeters
  • 41.
    Spectrophotometer V/S Spectroflorimeter •The fluorescence is often viewed at 90° orientation (in order to minimise interference from radiation used to excite the fluorescence). • Spectroflorimeter has two monochromators • As fluorescence is maximum between 25-30˚C, the sample holder has the device to maintain the temperature
  • 42.
    MERCURY ARC LAMP. XENONARC LAMP. TUNGSTEN LAMP. TUNABLE DYE LASERS. Sources of light
  • 43.
    In fluorimeter 10filter (absorb Vis. radiation and transmit UV radiation) and 20 filter (absorb UV radiation and transmit Vis. radiation) are present. In spectrofluorometers, excitation monochromators (isolates only the radiation which is absorbed by the molecule) and emission monochromator (isolates only the radiation which is emitted by the molecule) are present. Filters and Monochromators
  • 44.
    Sample and sampleholder The majority of fluorescence assays are carried out in solution. Cylindrical or rectangular cells fabricated of silica or glass used. Path length is usually 10mm or 1cm. All the surfaces of the sample holder are polished in fluorimetry.
  • 45.
  • 46.
    Read out devices Theoutput from the detector is amplified and displayed on a readout device which may be a meter or digital display. Microprocessor electronics provide outputs directly compatible with printer systems and computers, eliminating any possibility of operator error in transferring data.
  • 47.
    SINGLE BEAM FLUORIMETER DOUBLEBEAM FLUORIMETER SPECTROFLUORIMETER(DOUBLE BEAM)
  • 48.
     Source oflight.  The primary filter absorbs visible radiation and transmits UV radiation.  Emitted radiation measured at 90o by secondary filter.  Secondary filter absorbs UV radiation and transmits visible radiation. Advantages • Simple in construction • Easy to use. • Economical Disadvantages • It is not possible to use reference solution & sample solution at a time. • Rapid scanning to obtain Exitation & emission spectrum of the compound is not possible.
  • 49.
  • 50.
    Similar to singlebeam instrument. Two incident beams from light source pass through primary filters separately and fall on either sample or reference solution. The emitted radiation from sample or reference pass separately through secondary filter. Advantages • Sample & reference solution can be analyzed simultaneously. Disadvantages • Rapid scanning is not possible due to use of filters.
  • 51.
     The primaryfilter in double beam fluorimeter is replaced by excitation monochromaters.  The secondary filter is replaced by emission monochromaters.  The incident beam is split into sample and reference beam using a beam splitter.  The detector is photomultiplier tube. SPECTROFLUORIMETER Advantages • Rapid scanning to get Exitation & emission spectrum. • More sensitive and accuracy when compared to filter fluorimeter.
  • 53.
    • Advantages offluorescence spectroscopy: SENSITIVITY : It is more sensitive as concentration is low as µg/ml or ng/ml. PRECISION : Upto 1 % can be achieved. SPECIFICITY : More specific than absorption method where absorption maxima may be same for two compounds. RANGE OF APPLICATION : Even non fluorescent compounds can also be converted to fluorescent compounds by chemical compounds. • Disadvantages: Not useful for identification Not all compounds fluorescence Contamination can quench the fluorescence and hence give false/no results
  • 54.
    Environmental Significance: • Todetect environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: • pyrene • benzopyrene • organothiophosphorous pesticides • carbamate insecticides • Generally used to carry out qualitative as well as quantitative analysis for a great aromatic compounds present in cigarette smoking, air pollutant concentrates & automobile exhausts Geology: • Many types of calcite and amber will fluoresce under shortwave UV. Rubies, emeralds, and the Diamond exhibit red fluorescence under short-wave UV light; diamonds also emit light under X ray radiation. Applications of Spectrofluorometer:
  • 55.
    Analytical chemistry: • todetect compounds from HPLC flow • TLC plates can be visualized if the compounds or a coloring reagent is fluorescent • Plant pigments, steroids, proteins, naphthols etc can be determined at low concentrations Biochemistry: • used generally as a non-destructive way of tracking or analysis of biological molecules (proteins) • Possible direct or indirect analysis aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine- tyrosine-tryptophan) • Fingerprints can be visualized with fluorescent compounds such as ninhydrin.
  • 56.
     Medicine • Bloodand other substances are sometimes detected by fluorescent reagents, particularly where their location was not previously known. • There has also been a report of its use in differentiating malignant, bashful skin tumors from benign.  Pharmacy: • Possible direct or indirect analysis drugs such as: • vitamins (vitamin A -vitamin B2 -vitamin B6 -vitamin B12 -vitamin E -folic acid) • catecholamines (dopamine-norepinephrine) • Other drugs (quinine-salicylic acid–morphine-barbiturates –lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)) • to measure the amount of impurities present in the sample.
  • 57.
    Fluorescent indicators • Intensityand colour of the fluorescence of many substances depend upon the pH of solutions. These are called as fluorescent indicators and are generally used in acid base titrations. • Eg: Eosin – pH 3.0-4.0 – colourless to green Fluorescien – pH 4.0-6.0 – colourless to green Quinine sulphate: blue-violet. Acridine: green-violet
  • 58.
    APPLICATIONS EX 1. Determinationof polyaromatic hydrocarbons – Benzo[a]pyrene is a product of incomplete combustion and found in coal tar.
  • 59.
    • Benzo[a]pyrene, isa 5- ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that is mutagenic and highly carcinogenic • It is found in tobacco smoke and tar • The epoxide of this molecule intercalates in DNA, covalently bonding to the guanine base nucleotide
  • 60.
    Excitation and fluorescence spectrafor benzo(a)pyrene in H2SO4. In the diagram the solid line is the excitation spectrum (the fluorescence signal is measured at 545 nm as the exciting wavelength is varied). The dashed line is the fluorescence spectrum (the exciting wavelength is fixed at 520 nm while the wavelength of collected fluorescence is varied). Benzo(a)pyrene
  • 61.
    EX 2. FluorimetricDrug Analysis • Many drugs possess high quantum efficiency for fluorescence. For example, quinine can be detected at levels below 1 ppb. Quinine • In addition to ethical drugs such as quinine, many drugs of abuse fluoresce directly. For example lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) whose structure is: LSD
  • 62.
    • Because LSDis active in minute quantities, an extremely sensitive methods of analysis is required. Fluorimetricaly LSD is usually determined in urine from a sample of about 5mL in volume. The sample is made alkaline and the LSD is extracted into an organic phase consisting of n-heptane and amyl alcohol. This is a "clean-up" procedure that removes potential interferents and increases sensitivity. The LSD is then back-extracted into an acid solution and measured directly using and excitation wavelength of 335 nm and a fluorescence wavelength of 435 nm. The limit of detection is approximately 1 ppb.