Initial studies of an immobilised, regenerable chemiluminescent sensor

The first reported use of a regenerable chemiluminescent polymer for chemical analysis is described. Ruthenium tris(4-methyl-4′-vinyl-2,2′-bipyridine) was electropolymerised onto the surface of a Pt electrode. This system was optimised for detection of oxalate by investigating the effect of both scan rate and the pH of the analyte solution. A chemically modified electrode successfully completed over 200 regeneration cycles over a 6-month period, demonstrating the stability of the system. A range of other species has also been tested for activity with the chemiluminescent polymer. The system functions in a similar way to traditional homogeneous chemiluminescent methods, but the active compound is retained and re-used rather than discarded. This results in both environmental and cost savings.