Chemiluminescence of luminol induced by dissolution of oxide-covered aluminum in alkaline aqueous solution

One-electron reduction of oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, potassium peroxodisulphate and potassium peroxodiphosphate was studied during the dissolution of oxide-covered aluminum in alkaline aqueous solution. The production of free oxidizing radicals was monitored by luminol chemiluminescence (CL). It was observed superoxide, hydroxyl, sulphate and phosphate radicals can be generated by the present method. In addition, luminol can be detected below nanomolar level, the linear logarithmic calibration range covering several orders of magnitude of concentration. The metallic aluminum and low-valent aluminum ions are the primary reductants of the system. The electron transfer to the solution is proposed to occur by tunneling through a thin insulating aluminum oxide film at the solid/electrolyte interface in moderately alkaline solutions with simultaneous dissolution of the forming oxide film. In a highly alkaline solution, it is more probable that the oxidation of aluminum species occurs in direct contact of the metallic aluminum with the aqueous solution. In the latter case, short-lived solvated low-valent aluminum ions, hydrogen atom and its deprotonated form, the hydrated electron, can exist as reducing mediators in the chemical reactions in the close vicinity of the dissolving solid/electrolyte interface. Luminol was also observed to exhibit CL under purely reducing conditions produced by a presently unknown excitation pathway.