Kinetic and spectral aspects in chemiluminescence system Eu(III)/HCO3/H2O2

Chemiluminescence (CL) of the systems containing Eu₂⁺ or HCO₃^? ions and hydrogen peroxide was studied. The kinetic curves and CL emission spectra of the systems were discussed. The emission spectrum of the system containing carbonates revealed two emission maxima: the first directly after initiation of the reaction by hydrogen peroxide and the second in several seconds after the first. On the basis of the characteristic bands in the CL spectrum the emitters in the system Eu₂⁺/HCO₃^?/H₂O₂ were identified as: excited Eu³⁺ ions and excited products of carbonate decomposition. The emission bands for λ=600 and 420 nm appeared in a time distance of a few ten seconds.