Luminol

Chemical properties

yellow crystals or beige powder

The Uses of Luminol

Luminol is a chemiluminescent probe that has been used to detect myeloperoxidase-mediated oxidative events in granulocytes and for chemiluminescence analysis of metal cations and blood.

The Uses of Luminol

Detection of copper, iron, peroxides, cyanides.

The Uses of Luminol

Luminol is used in the detection of copper, iron, peroxides and cyanides. It exhibits chemiluminescence and utilized to measure opsonic and phagocytic function. It acts as a biological sensor and involved in the detection of polymorphonuclear leukocytes response in a patient with a myeloperoxidase deficiency. Further, it is used as a forensic test for blood.

What are the applications of Application

Luminol is a chemiluminescence generating reagent for biological and metal cation assays

General Description

Yellow crystals or light beige powder.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Oxidation of 3-Aminophthalhydrazide is accompanied by a striking emission of light. . .

Health Hazard

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: When heated to decomposition 3-Aminophthalhydrazide emits toxic fumes.

Fire Hazard

Flash point data for 3-Aminophthalhydrazide are not available, but 3-Aminophthalhydrazide is probably combustible.

Synthesis

The synthesis of Luminol is as follows: To a reaction tube, add 140 mg of 3-nitrophthalhydrazide and 1.0 mL of 3 M sodium hydroxide solution. Stir with a rod, and to the resulting deep brown-red solution add 0.6 g of sodium hydrosulfite dihydrate (Na2S2O4 · 2 H2O, MW 210.2). Wash down the sides of the tube with a small amount of water. Heat to a gentle boil and keep the tube hot for 5 minutes. During this time some product may begin to crystallize. Add 0.4 mL of acetic acid, cool the tube in cold water, and stir. Collect the light-yellow product Luminol by suction filtration.

storage

Room temperature

Purification Methods

Dissolve luminol in KOH solution, treat with Norit (charcoal), filter and precipitate it with conc HCl. [Hardy et al. Talanta 24 297 1977.] Store it in the dark in an inert atmosphere, because its structure changes during its luminescence. It has been recrystallised from 0.1M KOH [Merenyi et al. J Am Chem Soc 108 77716 1986]. [Beilstein 25 II 389, 25 III/IV 4192.]