Quantitative applications of fluorescence measurements:
Fluorescence and phosphorescence spectrometry search extensive applications pertaining to the quantitative and qualitative analysis in diverse areas. The applications of fluorimetry and phosphorimetry to the physical and life sciences have evolved rapidly during the past decade. An increased interest in these appears to be because of advances within time resolution, techniques of data analysis and improved instrumentation.
The fluorescence analysis methods could be widely put under two categories as the direct and indirect techniques. In direct methods, we measure the natural fluorescence of the analyte while in the indirect methods, we either suitably derivatise the analyte to be determined to a fluorescent species or explore for a fluorescent species whose fluorescence is quenched through the analyte.
The quantitative applications of fluorescence measurements are because of the relationship among the fluorescence intensity and concentration of the analyte. Therefore, a number of factors such as self quenching, radiant energy absorption, self absorption and presence of interfering species pose problems that are to be suitably addressed before undertaking the analysis.
Fluorimetric analysis is adequately meeting the growing required of highly sensitive and selective probes for the detection of metal ions in environmental and biological samples. The methods based on the phenomenon of chemiluminescence are being effectively used for the determination of NO-NO2 and SO2 as atmospheric pollutants. One can detect as small as 1 ppb of NO2 or 5 ppb of SO2 gas through these methods. Same, the presence of trace amounts of metal pollutants in water samples could also be analysed through fluorimetry.