Flow-injection chemiluminescence determination of chlortetracycline using on-line electrogenerated [Cu(HIO(6))(2)](5-) as the oxidant.

A novel chemiluminescence (CL) flow system for the determination of chlortetracycline is described. It is based on the direct CL reaction of chlortetracycline and Cu(HIO(6))(2) in KOH medium. The unstable Cu(HIO(6))(2) was on-line electrogenerated by constant-current electrolysis. The CL intensity was linear with chlortetracycline concentration in the range of 0.1-100 mug ml(-1). The determination limit was 5.3x10(-8) g ml(-1). The whole process could be completed in 1 min. The proposed method is suitable for automatic and continuous analysis, and has been applied satisfactorily to analysis of chlortetracycline in biological fluid.