Concept: Chemiluminescence in the measurementmethod vocabulary

Concept URI http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/aq/measurementmethod/chemi
Preferred label Chemiluminescence
Definition Chemiluminescence (sometimes "chemoluminescence") is the emission of light (luminescence), as the result of a chemical reaction. One known gas phase reaction is the basis of nitric oxide detection in commercial analytic instruments applied to environmental air-quality testing. Ozone is combined with nitric oxide to form nitrogen dioxide in an activated state. The activated NO2 luminesces broadband visible to infrared light as it reverts to a lower energy state. A photomultiplier and associated electronics counts the photons that are proportional to the amount of NO present. To determine the amount of nitrogen dioxide, NO2, in a sample (containing no NO) it must first be converted to nitric oxide, NO, by passing the sample through a converter before the above ozone activation reaction is applied. The ozone reaction produces a photon count proportional to NO that is proportional to NO2 before it was converted to NO. In the case of a mixed sample that contains both NO and NO2, the above reaction yields the amount of NO and NO2 combined in the air sample, assuming that the sample is passed through the converter.
Notation chemi
Status Valid
Status Modified 2013-03-22
Accepted Date 2013-03-22
Not Accepted Date
Scope note
  • The reference method for the measurement of nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen is that described in EN 14211:2005 ‘Ambient air quality — Standard method for the measurement of the concentration of nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen monoxide by chemiluminescence’.